The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has asked Dole Philippines, a Japanese-owned multinational agricultural company, to expand its Hass Avocado production program to the highlands of Mindanao under a growership program to benefit Filipino farmers and boost the economy.
Under the initial concept which I presented to Dole Philippines officers who visited my farm in Kidapawan City on Wednesday, Rodel Narvaez, manager of Diversified and Select Products, and Dodong Enerio of Dole Stanfilco in North Cotabato, I proposed that Dole Philippines will provide the technical assistance and Hass Avocado planting materials to farmer-growers who will be asked to sign a marketing agreement with the company.
MinDA, on the other hand, will seek the support of its financing partner, the Development Bank of the Philippines, to provide loan packages to Hass Avocado Growers.
Dole Philippines, which is now exporting to China, started the Hass Avocado Program in Mindanao several years ago from its farms in Calinan, Davao City, South Cotabato and Bukidnon.
It was under the term of President Rody Duterte when the company was able to gain access to the China market with the help of the Department of Agriculture when I was Secretary. It has also pending requests to export Hass to Japan and South Korea.
Hass is the most popular Avocado variety mainly because of its taste and long shelf life, making it a potential major dollar earner for Mindanao.
Ideally grown at elevations of at least 1,000-meters above sea level, Hass Avocado would be a perfect crop for the high elevation logged over areas in Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental and Davao Del Norte.
Narvaez said he personally liked the concept of a growership because it is also being done for their Solo Papaya Production and he will endorse it to the directors of the corporation in the Philippines.
Dole Philippines, formerly an American corporation, has been acquired by Japan’s Itucho Corporation.
It is now the only exporter of Hass Avocado from the Philippines to China.
The planting of Hass Avocado in the deforested highlands fits into the Green Mindanao Project of MinDA which seeks to encourage fruit tree or tree farming in logged-over areas of Mindanao.
The high demand and good price of Hass Avocado in the export market could also boost the income of Filipino farmers and trigger Mindanao’s economic recovery.
#TwoFruitsWithOneStone!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(Photos of my informal meeting with Dole Phils. officers were taken by Angelu Labrador while photos of the Dole Hass Avocado were downloaded from Dole Philippines website.)
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