Philippino fruit exports are set to rise as the Department of Agriculture (DA) is devoting over 60,000 hectares more land to farming, and encouraging clustering.
By 2010 the country aims to have a further 10,000 hectares for mango, 22,000ha for durian and 30,000ha of bananas. Clustering, where a group of farmers share common technology, credit and facilities to produce a specific fruit, has begun. It is hoped that these changes to the agricultural policy will maximise productivity and cut costs, and so enable the Philippines to increase exports.
“We have learned the value of having contiguous areas clustered for producing a single fruit,” said agriculture secretary Domingo F Panganiban. “Clustering will encourage cooperative production methods, cost cutting and mass production. It is the ‘missing link’ between successful agriculture and food production.”
To ensure the success of exports DA is bringing the produce into line with international standards on food safety. The Southern Philippine Roadmap for exportable fruits is being drafted, along with the training programmes Good Agricultural Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point.
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