Mindanao fruit industry meet focuses on competitiveness

DAVAO CITY – Mindanao’s fruit industry is getting a boost from the combined efforts of the private sector and government to enhance the sector’s competitiveness in the global market.

These developments will be the focus of the Second Mindanao Fruit Industry Conference which will be held here Nov. 14 to 17, at the Apo View Hotel.

The activity is expected to draw more than 600 fruit growers, traders, processors, exporters, agro-chemical companies and government officials from across the Philippines.

"The event will highlight the latest production technologies for mango, citrus fruits, pineapple, durian, lanzones, and mangosteen," says Ted Rodriguez, executive director of the Mindanao Fruit Industry Development Council (MinFruit). "It’s also an opportunity to network with potential investors."

Minfruit, the lead conference organizer, is composed of leading fruit growers’ associations and groups of cooperatives at the provincial level.

The congress is supported by the Department of Agriculture and other departments and agencies, the USAID-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program, the Davao City government, and private firms such as Dole Tropifresh, Gakken, Monsanto, Profood International, and Harbest.

The program will include presentations by fruit industry leaders, among them John Cassaza, vice president of Dole-Asia Fresh Sourcing, on positioning Mindanao as a supply hub for tropical fruit exports.

Justin Uy, president of Profood International Corp., a Cebu-based firm now setting up a multifruit processing plant in the Toril district, will discuss fruit processing prospects in Mindanao.

Profood is currently seeking mango suppliers, according to Rodriguez, and can meet with interested growers during business matching sessions at the conference.

An innovative mango contract-growing agreement between the General Santos City Sarangani Fruit Cooperative (Gensafco) and Dole TropiFresh will be presented by Rex Rivera, Gensafco chairman.

"The agreement has been a success, and the co-op’s experiences are being shared in the hope that other growers and firms would devise and enter into similar partnerships," says Rodriguez.

Angelito Sarmiento, Presidential adviser on agricultural modernization, will speak at the opening. Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor will be the key speaker at the closing ceremonies and is expected to respond to resolutions presented by the conference.

Participants will tackle a proposal to set up a national research and development center in Davao City. Tentatively called the Philippine Tropical fruits Research Institute (PhilFruits), the center would focus on the production and marketing of Philippine fruits with high-valued potential.

Blo Umpar Adiong, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director, will do the presentation on PhilFruits, while Bureau of Agricultural Research (DAR) Director Elise Ponce and a team of research specialists will share the latest tropical fruit production technologies. DA-AMAD director Salvador Salacup will provide mango market updates.

"It’s an upbeat time for the industry. There are opportunities opening up for Mindanao fruit growers through innovative partnership in the private sector and with government," says Rodriguez.

"The global fruit trade is becoming increasingly competitive, and Mindanao’s inherent natural advantages in this industry need to be supported through proper production and marketing," he added.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez will talk on tropical fruit production in agro-forestry projects, and Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Danilo Coronacion will discuss improving coconut farm incomes through fruit tree intercropping.

Sessions on financing and modernization initiatives will be conducted by Gary Teves, Land Bank president and Nelson Buenaflor, Quedancor chief executive officer. There will also be a session on the use of LGU funds to finance tropical fruit industry development. For conference details, call (082) 221-0649 or 299-1100. – GEM Program