Cebu fruit industry thriving, says agriculturist

CEBU’S fruit production is stable compared to other provinces in the country, an agriculturist said.

Dr. Biley Temanel, former president of the Philippine Fruit Association (PFA), said that Cebu’s fruit production is secure until the end of the year since it is not readily affected by climate change.

“Cebu has the right supply of fruits. It is also ideal because Cebu has the technology and business ventures in processing fruits,” Temanel said in an interview during the opening of the 19th National Fruit Symposium yesterday in Cebu City.

Temanel,who is also an agriculture professor in the Isabela State University,  said enrollment dropped by 40 percent this school year after Luzon was hit by typhoons.  Most farming communities in Isabela rely on the export of organic bananas.

“In Cebu, you’re lucky because typhoons do not destroy your crop,” he said.

He said Cebu also has a “thriving” fruit industry especially in mangoes which are also processed and sold in other regions and abroad while the Visayas is also developing as fruit producer with bananas in Bohol and jackfruit from Leyte.

In contrast, Bohol suffers a fruit shortage due to the large number of tourists visiting the province, said PFA president Dr. Elpidio Magante of Bohol Islands State University.

“Our food production is not enough to meet the demands of the market,” Magante said.

He said Bohol also lacks land area and most of the soil is barren or not ideal for cultivating a wide variety of food products.

Bohol exports bananas but also imports mango, lychee and apples from Cebu, Mindanao and China, he said.

“Imported fruits from China could affect local production because their prices are very low,” he said.

Temanel emphasized the importance of using science and technology for food security and to ensure a sustainable supply of fruits.

The five-day symposium, attended by 120 participants nationwide, is tackling topics such as health and nutrition, food production and management, crop diversification, breeding and improvement of crops, organic farming and marketing and post harvest handling.

The PFA is also a partner of the Department of Agriculture in market  distribution and crafting programs to develop farming techniques.

Temanel said farmers should take advantage of  DA programs and technical services to deal with crop diseases and inter-cropping.

Under the “Bagsakan Program,” farmers are provided areas to sell their products directly to consumers without going through middlemen.