The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will launch the Avocado Industry Development Program in 2021 targetting at least 100,000 hectares of deforested highlands.
MinDA’s advocacy received an encouraging input from a Filipino-American farmer based in California who said that the Mindanao Hass Avocado Indusrtry Development Program has a perfect timing.
Eduardo Panes, a retired naval personnel who owns a 9-acre Hass farm in San Diego said that the fruit trees in Mexico and the United States, No. 1 and No. 7 among the Top 10 Avocado producers in the world are now old.
“The fruits are getting smaller and it is a great opportunity for the Philippines to start planting now,” Panes said in a message sent to me.
Mexico is the world’s top Hass Avocado producer with over 2-million metric tons produced from 200,000 hectares.
Among the major importers Mexican Hass Avocados are Japan, South Korea and China, countries which are neighbors of the Philippines.
MinDA is initiating the Mindanao Avocado Industry Development Program as part of its Green Mindanao Project which encourages farmers to plant fruit trees in the deforested highlands.
It is aimed at achieving two objectives: effective reforestation and boosting agricultural production.
By February 2021, some 600 mother trees of Hass Avocado which were grafted using scions from trees planted by Dole Philippines will be transplanted in the highlands of Talakag, Bukidnon.
These Mother Trees will be the sources of planting materials which will later be distributed to farmers in the highlands of Mindanao.
Next month, MinDA, using satellite generated maps, will plot the areas with elevations of 800-meters above sea level or higher to be identified as potential Hass Avocado farming areas.
Farmers in these areas will be organized to form the Mindanao Hass Avocado Producers Association who will undergo technical training and financial literacy.
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), MinDA’s banking partner, will be involved in the program to provide financing and loans to farmers who will participate in the program.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#EnvironmentFriendlyFarming!
#WindowOfOpportunity!
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