DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing small banana farmers cooperatives and associations to supply part of the huge market requirements for Cavendish bananas in the Eastern European countries, especially Russia.
In a meeting with officials of banana farmers cooperatives of Compostela Valley in Davao City today, Agiruclture Secretary Manny Piñol emphasized that the EEU market has an estimated 180 million consumers.
Piñol said the market in the Russian Federation alone needs 150,000 boxes every week, according to an executive of the Magnit Supermatket, one of the biggest supermarket chains in Russia with 12,500 outlets.
A group of EEU investors intends to establish a 7,000-hectare banana farm in the Bangsamoro Area.
While waiting for the development of the area, however, the group will be buying from small independent farmers to initially supply the EEU requirements.
The Russian market alone has an annual expenditure of $5-B for tropical fruits, mainly bananas.
Ecuador monopolizes the Russian market even if the Philippines enjoys a distinct advantage of shorter shipping time.
The Philippines only set sights on the Russian and EEU market after President Duterte met with President Vladimir Putin in May 2017.
In the meeting yesterday in Davao City, small banana farmers were assured of DA support in consolidating their banana production to access the EEU market.
This would include a long-term marketing agreement which would assure them of a market with a fixed price for their produce.
The DA also assured the farmers of production support like Solar Irrigation facilities and fertilizers.
