Cutflower Industry propels Capiz MPCI to success
Mr. John Calumpiano and Mr. Jessie Hordevilla of
Plant Quarantine Service here in Region 6 conduct
inspection on Dracaena sanderiana plants before
issuing exprot permits to Tokyo, Japan.
The cutflower industry propelled Capiz Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. (CMPCI) to success when it forge a marketing agreement with DOLE Philippines and began exporting selected ornamentals and cutflowers to Tokyo, Japan since October 2006.
A total of seven shipments of three different species under the genera, Dracaena like D. sanderiana, D. godseffiana, and D. surculosa comprise 218,289 stems or 11,071.0 kgs were shipped to Tokyo, Japan to date.
According to Ms. Edna A. Viterbo, Chairperson of CMPCI, the cutflower production started in the amount of P375,144.00 soft loan under the Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program of the National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC) in April 1997.
Members of Capiz MPCI sort, wash cutflowers in
order to remove disease leaves ans stems before
packing for export.
Because of the enthusiasm and great domestic demand of the cutflower, the CMPCI was able to repay the previous loan on July 25, 2001 and was again granted the amount of P2,170,000.00 on October of the same year by the LEAD 2000 program phase II for its expansion program in order to meet the volume requirement of export.
The CMPCI was converted into a multi-sectoral organization engaged not only in cutflower and ornamental production but in other development projects such as livelihood opportunities to the community and provided employment to the household members.
In November 2005, they have acquired one unit refrigerated van worth P800,000.00 under the GMA-HVCC program of the DA which pave the way for a monthly cut foliage export in Tokyo, Japan.
Ms. Viterbo is optimistic that the present demand for ornamental plants is expected to increase enormously and steadily for the next few decades because of its potential as a dollar earner and job provider of the country.
The CMPCI has been awarded as 2nd runner-up in 1999 national search for outstanding livelihood projects and garnered a prize of P100,000.00 in the form of project fund.
The evolution of a hobby into an export industry must be sustained through global focus on floriculture trade, participation on foreign shows and confirming on the international standards.
(JEEO/RAFID 6 with reports from Ms. Arla Arenga)