DATE 2002: Boosting Mindanao’s competitiveness in agriculture

DAVAO CITY – The recently held Davao Agri-industrial Trade Exhibit (DATE) 2002 showcased the region’s vast agriculture and fisheries resources and demonstrated the competitiveness of Mindanao’s agriculture sector.

"This year’s DATE not only highlighted the Davao region’s agriculture potential but more importantly, helped create opportunities that would raise the productivity level of our agriculture sector in Mindanao," said Luciano Puyod, Steering Committee Chairman of DATE 2002.

DATE is recognized as Mindanao’s premier trade fair and the largest gathering of stakeholders in the agriculture sector. Over the years, the event has consistently helped create business opportunities and encourage investments in Southern Mindanao. It also provided a venue for marketing and information exchange between individuals and entities involved in the agribusiness industry.

Puyod said that government’s commitment to accelerate agriculture development in Mindanao is on track but "needs to be further reinforced."

At present, Mindanao contributes about 34 percent of the nation’s total agriculture and fisheries output. It is also the country’s leading producer of major agri-industrial crops, with 100 percent of the country’s total rubber, durian fruits and oil palm; 90 percent of cacao; 89 percent of pineapple; 74 percent of banana; 61 percent of corn; and 59 percent of coconut.

Puyod noted that despite efforts to boost agriculture growth in the countryside, the agriculture sector still shows low yields. He lamented that the Philippines, once recognized as a major rice producer in Asia, now has to import from neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam to meet its grains requirements.

"What makes the situation more disappointing is that the very same technology being utilized by these countries came from the Philippines," Puyod said. He added that this should not be the case since the country has the resources, manpower and technical expertise to improve agriculture production.

"Increasing the productivity of the grains sector would therefore ensure a stable supply of rice all year round and reduce the nation’s dependence on imports," Puyod said.

To achieve this, he emphasized that more partnerships should be established among the various agriculture stakeholders, especially between trading and processing sector and farmers groups. Identifying market opportunities and other linkages would also be crucial to spur agribusiness activity within the region.

This is the reason why DATE 2002 strongly advocated for the "big-brother, small brother" relationship during its Reverse Business Matching Sessions, a partnership that aims to create equal opportunities for growth among everyone involved in the agriculture sector.

Under this set up, he explained, the "small brother" (farmer) will plant and harvest produce, while the "big brother" (company) will buy, market and sell the produce. "The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI) has come up with a ‘buyers list’ to help bridge the gap between the companies and farmers who are interested to participate in this undertaking," he added.

Puyod cited the experience of DOLE Philippines Mindanao and its contract-growers as a successful model of this business partnership that could be replicated by other agriculture sub-sectors.

Meanwhile, Puyod said that government, for its part, must ensure that farmers benefit from better technology, enhanced market linkages and adequate infrastructure facilities. He added that the private sector is more than willing to lend support to government’s agriculture modernization programs in Mindanao.

"Ultimately, enhancing agriculture productivity and competitiveness in Mindanao should be a joint effort between the government and the private sector," Puyod said.

DATE 2002 was organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology and the Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program. (GEM)