Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Veggie conference seen to boost marketing linkages
By Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
THE 2nd Mindanao Vegetable Congress slated on August 18-19 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel will not only serve as a forum to address the industry's concerns, but as well as a venue for establishing marketing linkages.
The Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (Vicsmin) Inc., the event's major organizer, has reported that they have already invited a number of buyers who could be a potential market of the region's vegetable growers and farmers.
Among these are the NCCC Supermarket, Marco Polo Davao and traders from all over the country.
Bearing the theme "Mindanao Vegetable Industry Stakeholders' Collaboration: A Stronger Linkage to Markets", the two-day conference is aimed to develop business partnerships further in order to create more stable markets.
Vicsmin chair Roger Gualberto said that at present, Region 11 is experiencing an oversupply of numerous vegetable varieties such as bitter gourd, squash, Chinese cabbage, Chinese pechay, and eggplant.
Data gathered by Vicsmin showed bitter gourd, as of last month, was sold at an average of P13 per kilogram, lower than its ideal level of P20 per kilogram; eggplant was at P7 per kilogram from P15 per kilogram; Chinese cabbage was at P8 per kilogram from between P12 to P15 per kilogram; Chinese pechay was at P4 per kilogram from P8 per kilogram. All were in their wholesale prices.
Gualberto added that among the aforementioned vegetables, the biggest drop in price noted was on squash, which was only placed at P1.50 per kilogram since April this year.
"Ang indicator kasi na tinitingnan namin for us to know if there is a glut or none is the price level," he said.
To avoid the glut, Gualberto said, cluster farming should be adopted and additional markets should be established.
Some 500 participants throughout the country are expected to gather during the event.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 2, 2005 issue)
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