Agriculture.ph Blog

Smart agribusiness people know when to shift to something more profitable under their own circumstances. Just like Erwin Escudero of Cagayan de Oro, for instance.

Several years back, he helped his father manage the family’s 8.7-hectare mango plantation with trees that were about 15 years old. After managing the farm for several years, they concluded that mangoes were not the best crop to grow under the climate obtaining in Cagayan de Oro. Erwin remembers one time when they sprayed 500 trees with flower inducer. The flowers were overtaken by rain so it was a complete disaster.

Another time, they sprayed 900 trees, spending P600,000 in the process. They did not exactly lose. They made a net of P200,000, but the amount was considered minuscule, considering the money and time spent.

Erwin remembers they attempted to induce their fruit trees seven more times. All the same, they did not make any headway. That was when they gave up and cut down most of the trees. In the process, Erwin was dubbed “Mango Killer” by friends. He made charcoal out of the trunks and branches.

It was good that the Escuderos did not entirely give up farming. When we interviewed him late last year, he was excited about his vegetable production. One of his first projects was production of sweet pepper on four hectares that he bought. In may 2008, Erwin planted three hectares to sweet pepper. The first harvest was made in August and when harvesting was over on the first three hectares that were planted ahead, he got a total of 25 tons that he sold for P30 a kilo. That was a profitable venture.

The remaining one hectare that he planted later was being harvested when we interviewed him. He was harvesting two times a week, averaging 600 kilos weekly. At that time the price was P40 per kilo.

Erwin is excited about high-value vegetable production because it has a much shorter gestation than mango trees. Mangoes produce fruits only once a year. On the other hand, two crops of high-value vegetables could be planted in one year. One can stagger planting in such a way that there is cash flow throughout the year. And if the quality of the produce is high, there is no problem marketing the same, according to Erwin. He has a stall at the Agora market in Cagayan de Oro where he sells most of his harvest.

Erwin updates himself on the latest developments in the vegetable industry by constantly consulting experts. He makes research through the internet. He also attends seminars like the forum for vegetable producers, traders and financiers organized by East-West Seed Company in Cebu City where we interviewed him.

Erwin also undertakes his own experiments. He compares the performance of varieties distributed by different seed companies. After observing the possibilities of different crops, he said he will also be planting sweet corn, tomato and Casino eggplant.

Erwin says that vegetable production requires daily attention. He has to visit his standing crops practically every day. Of course, he does not mind that as long as it is more profitable than mango farming.

By Zac B. Sarian

Source: mb.com.ph