August 14, 2015

As part of the trading capital granted to the Naujan Farmers’ Association (NAFA) under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), an initial amount of P 700, 000.00 worth of cheque was transferred by the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Project Management Implementing Unit (PPMIU) to the farmers’ group on August 7, 2015.

The amount is part of the total P9.73 million project cost to boost the calamansi trading and marketing in Oriental Mindoro under the Enterprise Development (I-REAP) component of the PRDP. It covers the provision of trucks and trading capital that will support the logistics of calamansi from the province to identified markets in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

NAFA is among the first proponent groups (PGs) which received assistance from the PRDP. Under the Project, 20% of the total expense cost of Oriental Mindoro Calamansi Trading Center (OMCTC) will be shouldered by NAFA, in cask or in kind. The remaining 80% will be shared among the national and local government, wherein 60% is loaned by the Government of the Philippines (GOP) to World Bank, 20% from the budget of the GOP and 20% from the local government of Oriental Mindoro.

NAFA President and Treasurer Mr. Conrado Balmes who received the cheque is hopeful that through the PRDP, problems in marketing and trading will soon be solved.

“Pagdating sa production maganda na, kaso pag madami ang ani, ang problema ay kung paano ito mabebenta sa merkado,” explained Balmes.  (Our production is already good, but during the peak season, when the Calamansi production is bountiful, selling all harvested Calamansi is a problem.)

“Hindi lang doble, pero baka maging triple o apat na beses muna ang delivery sa Manila kada lingo pag ma-launch na fully ang PRDP,” he added. (We might deliver more than twice—even three to four times a week to Manila if PRDP is fully launched in the province.

Mr. Jaime Comia, a farmer-member of NAFA, said that he is now keen on returning to calamansi growing after giving up on planting due to problems in marketing.

He explained that during peak season, they have no choice but to hire pickers for the calamansi.

“Otherwise, the fruits will rot, which may even affect the health of the tree,” he said.

Calamansi growers pay pickers P50 for a basket of calamansi, which is typically sold for only P80 in Metro Manila.

“Napakalaking advantage sa amin ngayon ang dala ng PRDP, na-fifeel naming na transparent na ang bentanan, hindi katulad dati. Di mo alam kung ano ang tamang presyo,” he added. (The PRDP has brought a big advantage to us calamansi farmers. We can feel now that the market is transparent, unlike before when we were unaware of the real price of the produce in the market.)

As further support to the production and marketing of calamansi in Oriental Mindoro, farm-to-market roads (FMR) are proposed in the province.

Currently the Bagong Silang-Macatoc FMR measuring 2.70 kilometers in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro where the trading center will be built, is being constructed, while another FMR measuring 5.3 kilometers in Baco,  which will serve as access from some of the sources of Calamansi to the proposed trading center in Bayanan II, Calapan City,  is set for implementation. Total amount of the two FMRs is P75.6 million.

PRDP is a six-year national project that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented, and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. It is implemented through the partnership of the DA, World Bank and Local Government Units. (InfoACE MIMAROPA/Catherine Nanta)