Banana-Q Syndrome! Agri Production Based On Actual Market Needs

The “Banana-Q Syndrome” is a story which I love to relate whenever I tell farmers to change the mindset of hitting the jackpot in just one season.
It is the story of one stall owner who sold Banana-Q in front of a public school and drew many kids during recess and making huge profits.
The following day, over a dozen other Banana-Q stalls sprouted in the area and since there was stiff competition, each one of the stall owners dropped their prices until everybody ended up not making any profit.
To make the long story short, after a month, there was not one Banana-Q stall left in front of the school.
Actually, this is true with all other new agricultural products including Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Lacatan Bananas and very recently “Kalabasa.”
Kapag nakarinig na maganda ang presyo ng Kamatis, lahat magtatanim ng kamatis without even checking if the market could absorb the production.
Yesterday, when I talked to farmers in Dado, Alamada, North Cotabato about Sorghum and Soybeans farming, I reminded them to erase from their minds the idea that they will become millionaires after one or two seasons.
The farmers were among those who lost a lot of money in Kalabasa, Lacatan and even Corn farming.
I told the farmers that Sorghum and Soybeans would give them modest income but since there is a guaranteed price and a ready market, the risk of a drop in prices because of oversupply is eliminated.
Actually, this is the main reason why I had been advocating for the crafting of the National Food Supply and Demand Map so that agricultural production will be based on the actual needs of the market.
This is also the reason behind my recommendation that the Food Terminal Inc. be given additional funds to open Food Controlidation Centers in the production areas and Farmers and Fishermen’s Outlets in the populoation centers.
These twin innovations in Philippine Food Production Program will surely lead to Food Sufficiency and lower food prices.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!