Fruitful Rebound

Local Fruit Industry Comes Back Fighting

Even if some sectors of the local fruit industry did not achieve expected production performances for this part of the year, the fruit industry, its investors, and local business owners are hopeful in the midst of rebuilding efforts.

According to the first-quarter agricultural performance report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, banana production was up 1.86%, with the biggest harvests reported in Davao Region and expansion in Bukidnon, as well as reports of additional trees in Soccsksargen and Caraga and favorable growing conditions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Mango production from January to March suffered an 0.18% decline after last year’s Typhoon Yolanda damaged trees in Western Visayas, and lower output in Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga regions due to frequent rains.

Banana production in January-March 2014 was estimated at 2,052.22 thousand metric tons (MT), 1.9 percent more than the 2,014.81 thousand MT level of output in the same period last year.

The production increment was brought about by more bearing hills in Davao Region and big bunches harvested in Zamboanga Peninsula. The expansion of plantation farms in Bukidnon Province in Northern Mindanao; additional area and bearing trees harvested in SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga Region; and, favorable weather condition in ARMM during the fruiting stage.

Calamansi production in the first quarter of 2014 was 17.45 thousand MT. It dropped by 8.7 percent from last year’s production level of 19.11 thousand MT.

The drop in production was traced to the adverse effects of typhoon Yolanda in MIMAROPA and Eastern Visayas. The late occurrence of flowers caused by prolonged hot weather condition in CALABARZON; and less number of trees harvested due to cutting of senile trees in Cagayan Valley.

MIMAROPA remained the top producer of calamansi during the period, accounting for 18.5 percent of the national output.

Mango production was 160.94 thousand MT for January-March 2014. This was 0.2 percent below the 2013 output of 161.23 thousand MT.

The decline in production was due to the fact that farms have not fully recovered from the adverse effects of typhoon “Yolanda” in Eastern and Western Visayas as well.

The prolonged rain caused by typhoon “Agaton” in Northern Mindanao. There are also less bearing trees in SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga Region.

This quarter’s production accounted for 20.3 percent of the average annual production for the past five (5) years. The country’s pineapple production during the reference quarter was 573.04 thousand MT., 5.8 percent higher than last year’s 541.87 thousand MT.

The increase in production was contributed by the expansion of corporate farms in Northern Mindanao. The increase in area harvested in SOCCSKSARGEN, Central Luzon and Zamboanga Peninsula, and balanced agro-climatic condition in Bicol Region also contributed to the production.

The top producers were Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Bicol Region with combined share of 96.1 percent to the national pineapple production.