Fruit production grows 3.4% in Q3

Production of the country’s major fruit crops rose 3.4 percent to 2.38 million metric tons in the third quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

“This is due to bigger bunches harvested following sufficient rainfall and increase in area harvested and bearing hills as a result of expansion of cavendish banana plantation farms controlled by major companies,” PSA said.

The Davao region remains the top banana producer with 919,000 MT, accounting for 39 percent of the aggregate production during the period.

Cavendish variety comprised 52 percent of the total production for the quarter. Saba and Lakatan varieties made up 28 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Pineapple production inched up 1.5 percent to 683,760 MT, mainly due to the increase in corporate farms.

Northern Mindanao registered the largest production at 417,150 MT, representing 61 percent of national output.

Meanwhile, production of mango decreased 5.4 percent to 55,440 MT amid lesser trees induced due to the anticipation of rainy weather in Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao.

Central Visayas produced 18,290 MT, comprising 33 percent of total mango production. Northern Mindanao and Caraga came next with 21 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Carabao mango accounted for 81 percent of the country’s total mango production.

Calamansi production fell 2.4 percent to 54,690 MT due to decrease in area planted and bearing trees.

Top producer Mimaropa contributed 53 percent of the total production, followed by Calabarzon and Zamboanga Peninsula.