“Our peanut in the valley is worth your investments and now ready to make business with you”

Those were the striking words of CVARRD RRDCC Chair Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, as he addressed the crowd during the investment forum for peanut held last October 29, 2009 at BPK Hall, PCARRD, Los Banos Laguna.

The forum was held as an answer to the call to create a concrete and well structured support system for peanut in region 02. CVARRD considered the Investment Forum as its first initiative in making things big for peanut producers in the valley. Major output of the forum was the crafting of a peanut industry roadmap for the region.

Five papers were presented during the forum which provided insights on the various perspectives on peanut production, processing and marketing.

Speakers include Mr. Elmer Enicola, University Researcher from IPB-UPLB who discussed the Global Peanut Situation as well as its Opportunities; information from his presentation put it that the Philippines registered big bulk of imports from India and China as raw materials for various peanut products processed in the country. According to him, such high numbers could be considered as an opportunity for domestic producers to expand production and cater to the bulk of imports incurred by the country.

Ms. Rose Mary Aquino of DA-CVIARC who provided highlights of peanut production in region 02, which set the regional overview of peanut production in the valley.

Dr. Rustico Santos, DOST R02 Consultant, explained the concept of the required pillars in establishing an industry for peanut in his presentation on Community-Based Peanut Industry, which was already piloted in Jones,Isabela as a brain child project of DOST R02.

On the other hand, important input was presented by Magsasakang Siyentista Roger Salvador with his presentation on the local peanut production as perceived by a lay farmer. According to him, production could be said as a perfected venture for them as technologies introduced and adopted during the STBF Projects yielded significant results in increasing their yield and income. Such fact could be translated to a steady supply of raw material for the industry.

The processing and marketing aspect was presented by Prof. Cesar Frias of ACD-PCARRD who pioneered the Techno Mart concept. He presented that the model for the valley’s peanut industry was a demand-driven, demand-pushed supply chain. He furthered that the demand for peanut is there especially for confectionary varieties such as Asha and Namnama or the “big nuts”.

Lastly, the Peanut Service Station (PSS) presented by NTA- FTI-FDC Center Chief Alberto Cariso Jr. answered the gaps earlier identified as issues in the industry establishment. In his presentation, Cariso underscored that the PSS will house the post production processing needed for peanut which include drying, sorting, grading, aflatoxin test and so forth for the produce to fetch higher prices and with a seal of quality.

The PSS will be a collaborative project of LGUs, line agencies and CVARRD member agencies.

Dr. Quilang summed it up that “ Now, that the technologies and practices are at hand, together with the needed social force, and the help of the business sector, we could say that the machinery needed to create a viable peanut industry is already set”

After the forum, positive results had signified by the various stakeholders which was translated to a meeting set on the 3^rd week of November to discuss the operationalization of the Peanut Service Station.

The activity was well attended by CVARRD partners which include PCARRD represented by Dr. Patricio Faylon and Dr. Arturo Arganosa, DA-RFU 02 with Regional Technical Director Dr. Lucresio Alviar as representative, Isabela State University with Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, Landbank of the Philippines, NAFC, GMA-HVCC Program, LGUs of Jones, Benito Soliven and Echague, Isabela with their Magsasakang Siyentista MS Rodrigo Reyes, and MS Roger Salvador.

This forum was part of the Peanut Techno Mart Project set for Cagayan Valley as a joint venture with DA-R02 and DOST R02.

The Cagayan Valley Agriculture Resources Research and Development (CVARRD) Consortium, housed at the Isabela State University (ISU) is one of the 14 regional consortia of PCARRD-DOST mandated to set directions in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources sectors (AFNR) in region 02.

Photo: