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What is PineappleGrow?

PineappleGrow is a contract-growing arrangement between farmers and/or agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) or their organizations with Del Monte Philippines, Incorporated (DMPI).

It is a joint undertaking of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), DMPI, participating farmers/ARBs and their organizations, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and concerned local government units (LGUs).

How PineappleGrow started?

DAR pursues stronger collaboration and more effective coordination with other stakeholders in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

It also spearheads activities that help realize the goals and objectives of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) and the Ten Point Agenda of the government.

On the other hand, DMPI needs more areas for pineapple and other crops to meet its domestic and export markets.

This led to the formulation of PineappleGrow.

PineappleGrow aims that by 2010, it has contributed in:

• putting into productive use 10,000 hectares of unproductive and underutilized ARC lands in Region X;
• generating at least 10,000 new jobs; and
• increasing incomes of at least 3,000 ARC households or individual farmers/ARBs per hectare per year.

Why pineapple growing?

An increasing demand for fresh pineapples has emerged in the markets of China, Korea, and Middle East countries.

The technology in cultivating pineapples is easily learned and adopted by farmers. It is demonstrated as suited to the target area of PineappleGrow as shown by the presence of DMPI plantation in the region.

DMPI will also contribute to the government’s development effort by expanding its pineapple production. To achieve this, DMPI has to contract out the growing of pineapples to produce an additional 600,000 metric tons annually.

Who may participate in PineappleGrow?

Those who have full control and possession of their lands are qualified to participate in the contract growing arrangement with DMPI. These include:

a. Individual ARBs and farmers

• ARBs awarded with emancipation patents (EPs), certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) or similar tenurial instruments issued by the DAR or its predecessor.
• Beneficiaries of Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) and Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) areas holding stewardship and CBFM awards under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) component of CARP.
• Farmers with titles to their farmlands situated in ARCs and/or within the ARC connectivity areas.

b. Cooperatives and associations

• ARBs and farmers organized as cooperatives or associations duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or Bureau of Rural Workers (BRW) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Their participation in PineappleGrow must be approved by their general membership.

Scope of PineappleGrow?

PineappleGrow will cover about 10,000 hectares of unproductive and underutilized ARC lands in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte. The technology for pineapple production in these areas will be undertaken under three conditions:

• Conventional: Open and flat or slightly rolling lands
• As an intercrop: Fifty percent (50%) shade for coconut, with 10 by 20 meters spacing
• Sloping: Up to 18% slope

The suitable areas to be placed under PineappleGrow should also conform with the following technical specifications.

• Elevation: 200 to 600 meters above sea level
• Soil pH: 4 to 6
• Top soil: at least 6 inches

Roles of PineappleGrow Partners

DAR:

• Provide the implementation policy guidelines of PineappleGrow,
• Set up project management offices (PMOs) to oversee Project implementation;
• The PMOs will provide a mechanism to screen eligible growers, formulate an investment plan and provide the necessary training to growers;
• Take the lead in mobilizing resources from both public and private sectors, including Official Development Assistance (ODA) to ensure Project implementation; and
• In charge of overall coordination and implementation of the Project.

DMPI:

• Determine, with partners, the areas to be placed under PineappleGrow;
• Provide pineapple planting materials and technology at no cost to the growers;
• Purchase all produce of growers according to specifications provided in the contract; and
• Review regularly the pricing mechanism to help realize the objective of increasing the incomes of growers.

LBP:

• Extend financial assistance to qualified growers and other partners based on its lending policies and guidelines.

Farmers/ARB Growers:

• Assist DAR, DMPI and LGUs in determining the areas suitable for PineappleGrow using the prescribed specifications;
• Cultivate pineapple following the requirements and schedules provided by DMPI;
• Sell to DMPI their pineapple produce based on the terms and conditions of the growership contract;
• Participate in all seminars, meetings, fora and other activities organized by DAR-PMO and DMPI.

Benefits of PineappleGrow to Growers

The growers commit to produce pineapples which DMPI buys at pre-agreed terms while maintaining ownership of the land. This type of arrangement ensures the long-term market availability to growers.

Also, participation in PineappleGrow will increase the growers’ overall household income.

For information on PineappleGrow, contact:

4/F FAPsO Building, DAR Compound
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Telephone No. (02) 426-7484/86
Telefax No. (02) 426-7489
Email: aredp_technical@yahoo.com

photos from canjordana.com, diarisdebicicleta.cat

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