Fruit output up in Q4 as El Niño effects fade

MANILA, Philippines -  Production of the country’s major fruit crops  improved in the last quarter of 2016, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Data from the PSA showed banana production inched up by nearly two percent to 2.3 million metric tons (MT).

“This is due to the increase in number of bearing hills harvested for Cavendish variety on corporate farms amid increasing demand and bigger bunches harvested due to sufficient soil moisture during the fruiting stage,” the agency said.

Davao region remains the top banana producer with 897,720 MT, accounting for close to 40 percent share of the aggregate production during the period.

Cavendish variety comprised 51.8 percent of the total production for the quarter. Saba and Lakatan varieties accounted for 27.6 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively.

Pineapple production grew 1.4 percent to 679,170 MT, due to increase in corporate farms and bigger fruits produced following recovery from the effects of dry spell in the previous quarters.

Northern Mindanao registered the largest production at 431,870 MT representing 64 percent of the national output.

Calamansi production also went up 1.8 percent to 28,130 MT due to more fruits harvested per tree following proper maintenance including fertilization and pruning, as well as the occurrence of moderate rains.

Top producer Calabarzon contributed 15 percent of total production at 4,080 MT, followed by Zamboanga peninsula and Caraga.

Meanwhile, production of mango decreased eight percent to 30,580 MT amid lesser trees in Cebu and Zamboanga peninsula as most contractors anticipated a rainy weather condition.

Zamboanga peninsula produced 9,840 MT, comprising 32 percent of total mango production. Caraga and Northern Mindanao came next with 19 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

Carabao mango made up 81 percent of the country’s total mango production.