Six seedlings of the high-value Hass Avocado, which is in great demand in the export market, were planted in the fertile soil in the highlands of Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon with an elevation of 1,440-meters Above-Sea-Level.
The seedlings, stressed and not in the best of shape, were given to me by Rodel Narvaez of Dole Philippines about a month ago following an article I posted in this page on the bright prospects of Hass Avocado farming in Mindanao’s highlands.
The six seedlings were not the first Hass Avocado to be test-planted in Miarayon as Narvaez told me that a former Dole employee had planted 4 trees which are now profusely bearing fruits.
Yesterday’s planting ceremony, participated in by other officers of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) who travelled with me, was symbolic and significant because it marks the start of our advocacy on the planting of trees, especially fruit trees, in the deforested highlands of Mindanao.
Most of the highlands of Mindanao were stripped bare of trees by large logging companies who abandoned the areas after enriching themselves.
It also marks the beginning of a campaign by MinDA to usher Mindanao farmers to sustainable agriculture where trees and fruit trees are planted in undulating areas to serve as windbreakers and to prevent soil erosion.
I have proposed a program to Dole Philippines, an out-growership for Hass Avocado where farmers in the highlands will be engaged in planting the high-value crop with a marketing agreement with the Japanese-owned agricultural company.
When I was Agriculture Secretary, we succeeded in opening the China market for Hass Avocado which has traditionally been grown in South America and California.
Japan and South Korea are the next target export markets.
Given our proximity to these countries compared to Mexico or even California, Hass Avocado could prove to be a new export commodity from Mindanao.
Implementing this program will not be easy and the results will not be quick.
In fact, it would take about two to three years before the six seedlings that we planted in Miarayon yesterday could produce scions for grafting.
The program may not even bear fruit or yield dramatic results in my term as MinDA Chairman or even in my lifetime.
We have to plant those seedlings to start the program just the same.
After all, what we do today is not for us but for the future generation of Filipinos.
Besides, if we do not do it now, who will and when?
Before we left Miarayon last night back to Davao City, it rained hard.
It could be Mother Nature’s way of telling us that what we are doing pleases her.
#GenerationalAgriculture!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(Photos of the Hass Avocado seedlings planting yesterday were taken by the Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao Media Team for the4 Mindanao Development Authority.)
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