The Philippines’ horticultural industry stands to benefit from The Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA) plans to increase development on the island.
In a statement reported by Business World, the MinDA recognised agriculture as one of the major drivers of growth on the island and in appreciation of this the country’s government had allocated funds to help development in the sector.
Around 30 – 40 per cent of the budgets of the departments of agriculture, environment and natural resources, as well as that of the National Irrigation Authority, have been allocated to projects on the island, said MinDA chairperson Luwalhati R Antonino.
The authority also plans to create agribusiness corridors to increase the production of fresh produce on the island, reported the newspaper.
Mindanao is currently a major producer of bananas, cassavas, coconuts, coffee, corn, mangoes and pineapples.
To grow industry on Mindanao the MinDA specified the need for the development of roads, air and seas ports, irrigation facilities and sufficient power supply.
