The Mindanao Development Authority’s Vegetable Derby Program in the Zamboanga Peninsula will focus on the production of tomatoes to supply the 20,000-metric ton paste and sauce requirements of Sardines Factories in Zamboanga every year.
This twist in MinDA’s vegetable production advocacy program which started with the Mindanao Vegetable Derby last year in the IMMATASULA Region of Bukidnon came about after a consultation with the leader of the Sardines Making Group based in Zamboanga City.
Jaydrick Yap, president of the Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, Inc. (SoPhil), told me today that the Sardines Industry in Mindanao requires about 20,000-metric tons of Tomato Paste and Sauce every year.
The volume represents the requirements of 10 huge Sardines Factories estimated at 100 containers of 20 tons for each company all imported from China valued at P700-M.
The amount does not include the cost of shipping and handling from China to Zamboanga City estimated at P60,000 per 20TEU Containers, he said.
“We used to buy locally processed Tomato paste and sauce from as far as Ilocos but they (farmers) could not produce the quality that we need,” Yap said.
Tomato farmers in Luzon and Mindanao have long complained of problems in marketing their produce during peak harvest season with many of them dumping tomatoes by the roadside to protest the lack of support by government.
The production of local tomato paste and sauce could address this problem and even absorb a bigger volume of production.
Yap said the problem is in the processing technology where the “hot brix” and “cold brix” processes are needed to produce quality Tomato paste and sauce.
Yap said the Zamboanga-based Sardines Companies are all interested in sourcing the Tomato Paste and Sauce locally because of the logistics difficulties resulting from the COVID 19 restrictions.
He said sourcing the Tomato Paste and Sauce locally could also create jobs and income opportunities which would spur the immediate economic recovery of Mindanao.
All that is needed, he said, is to plant the Tomato variety ideal for Sauce and Paste production and a modern facility to process the tomatoes.
General Santos City-based logistics businessman Rene Pamintuan had earlier informed me that he has links to companies who could provide the equipment and technology for the processing of quality tomato and chili paste.
He proposed that Tomato and Chili Paste processing facilities should be established near the fish processing centers of Zamboanga City and General Santos City.
The two regional officers of MinDA covering Western Mindanao and South Central Mindanao, Carly Cerezo, and Jun Buhat, and the team undertaking the Vegetable Derby Programs led by Director Joey Recimilla, have been directed to link up with the stakeholders to explore the potentials of Tomato and Chili Paste production and processing.
Tomatoes could be harvested 60 days after planting and the challenge would be in the funding and establishment of the processing facility.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Photos were downloaded from public websites.)
More Stories
Breadfruit Grows Fast In My Dreamed Food Forest!
From The Town Of Hornbills To The City Of Fruits & Highland Springs!
After A Learning Tour,