Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities cultivating Cardava bananas have established a global market linkage with support from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The DA-Davao Region (DA-11) reported that 1,593 kilograms of Cardava bananas from the Ata Paquibato Tribal Association (APATA) were purchased by See’s International Food Manufacturing Corporation in August. The DA provided transport services through its Kadiwa trucks, enabling APATA to deliver the initial batch directly to See’s factory in Bunawan, Davao City.
See’s has operated for 30 years and exports Philippine banana chips to international markets. The company has committed to purchasing Cardava bananas from APATA every 15 days. The DA will assist in drafting a formal contract to safeguard both parties.
APATA chairperson Oliver Manlangan expressed appreciation for the support. “We thank the DA for giving us this market linkage. This will really help us in our livelihood,” he said.
The initiative was facilitated under DA-11’s Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo program, in coordination with the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.
See’s president, Ruben See, said: “This is a dream come true.” To ensure compliance with standards, See’s also conducted a briefing for APATA members on the proper classification of Cardava bananas.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Cardava bananas thrive in various soil types except highly sandy or rocky conditions, performing best in consistently warm and humid climates. The variety is often processed into banana chips due to its larger size.
The DTI added that Cardava is one of the priority commodities assisted under the RAPID (Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth) project. The program, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, focuses on increasing rural incomes by developing value chains for key agribusinesses.
DA-11 Director Macario Gonzaga said, “Our efforts will not go to waste. We are committed to finding ways to connect our farmers to the markets.”
Source: Philippine News Agency
