Guimaras, September 18, 2023 – The Department of Agriculture has allocated Php 10 million in financial grants to support the dragon fruit industry in Guimaras province.
Maria Teresa Solis, Chief of the Agri-Business and Marketing Assistance Division for Department of Agriculture Region 6, made this announcement during the International Business Forum on Dragon Fruit Farming held on August 10, 2023, at Olivia’s Kitchen in San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.
These grants are provided through the Department of Agriculture’s High Value Crops Development Program, which aims to promote the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-value crops.
According to Solis, the financial aid will be utilized for purchasing fertilizer, planting materials, crates, and providing training to dragon fruit farmers on the island.
Furthermore, Solis emphasized the support of the agency’s Agri-Business and Marketing Assistance Division in expanding the market for dragon fruit and its value-added products.
“It’s very important for us to understand the market for our commodity that we are going to produce. We shouldn’t produce without a market… without a guaranteed market. Because usually, we produce, and later on, we struggle to find a market because there might not be any market. But dragon fruit is very promising because of its nutrients,” Solis stated.
Guimaras dragon fruit farmers expressed their appreciation for the assistance provided by the agency. Mr. Bonifacio Tespoer, President of the Guimaras Dragon Fruit Growers Association, expressed gratitude for the unexpected financial grant from the Department of Agriculture.
Tespoer also appealed to the agency to provide them with a cold storage facility, which they consider their most pressing need.
Mr. Alvin Nava, the Provincial Agriculturist, highlighted that the financial grant will significantly benefit the dragon fruit industry in the province. He believes that this assistance will lead to the expansion of dragon fruit plantations in Guimaras and subsequently result in higher production.
The province of Guimaras recently concluded its 10-day festivities for the Dragon Fruit Festival Year 2, which aims to establish dragon fruit as an emerging high-value crop and a key tourism attraction in the region.
News Release Date: July 7, 2023 Ref: Information Section – Office of the Governor
