National Commission on the Indigenous People Chairman, Sec. Allen Capuyan, will present in the First Mindanao Convention on Hass Avocado and Jackfruit Industry on Monday May 17, Mindanao tribal lands with an elevation of over 600 meters above sea level as potential sites for Hass Avocado production.
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) spearheads the introduction of these new crops as part of its Green Mindanao Advocacy in the denuded and deforested highlands, most of which are Ancestral Domain of the many tribes of Mindanao.
In my initial conversations with Sec. Capuyan last week, he said that the introduction of Avocado and Jackfruit as part of Mindanao’s Agro-Industrial Development could bring the much needed livelihood activities in the largely under-utilized tribal lands in Mindanao.
“We are very excited about this new projects of the MinDA because NCIP has been searching for sustainable programs for our Indigenous People’s communities,” he said.
During the convention, both face-to-face and virtual, Sec. Capuyan will present maps of the different Ancestral Domain Areas with elevation higher than 600-meters above sea level.
Most of these areas are located in Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental and Oriental, North Cotabato, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region and Caraga.
These areas will be validated by a technical team composed of Hass Avocado experts who will conduct studies on soil suitability, and availability of water supply.
In introducing the new agro-industrial crops, MinDA is ensuring a complete value chain where the landowners and producers will be provided technical and financial support, infrastructure and assurance of a market.
While the First Mindanao Avocado and Jackfruit Convention will be open and accessible to the public via ZOOM and Facebook Livestreaming, those invited to directly participate are farmers and landowners, government financing institutions, support agencies of government, local buyers and exporters.
Hass Avocado is mainly produced by South American countries and the U.S. and exported to Europe, China, Japan and other progressive countries.
The biggest exporter of Hass Avocado is Mexico with over 100,000-hectares while the Philippines started exporting a small volume two years ago to China with production from three small plantations of Dole Philippines.
For Jackfruit, an endemic fruit tree in the Philippines, the country’s food processors import an estimated P500-M worth from Vietnam and Thailand every year.
MinDA targets the development of an estimated 100,000 hectares for Hass Avodado in the next 5 to 10 years in a well-planned production program which would protect farmers by ensuring government support and access to the market.
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