Region 8, ranked as the 10th top jackfruit-producing region in the country, gets a much needed boost to step up the ladder in the jackfruit industry.
PCAARRD, in partnership with the Visayas State University (VSU), Department of Agriculture- Eastern Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center, and five local government units in Leyte, will promote the adoption of S&T interventions through the S&T Community-Based Farm (STCBF).
The STCBF, a technology transfer modality of the Council, will upscale the application of S&T interventions for adoption by jackfruit farmers in the region. It will also provide the raw material requirements of the TechnoMart (TM) project.
TM, another PCAARRD modality, aims to bring S&T products to the market in partnership with business organizations and private sectors.
In a recently concluded inception meeting for the STCBF and TM projects, a leveling off on the concepts and methodologies of both projects was undertaken by the partners.
Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) for jackfruit, Job Abuyabor, was chosen by the partners as the entrepreneur for dehydrated jackfruit, while Mario Cellona shall be the VSU technology business incubatee on vacuum-fried jackfruit.
VSU shall provide marketing assistance by displaying their processed jackfruit products at the VSU Technomart Display Center and through e-marketing.
Meanwhile, in a supply chain analysis conducted by VSU, it was revealed that the key issues and problems along the chain in Eastern Visayas were as follows: low yield per tree; low maintenance of jackfruit plantation; high incidence of pests and diseases; unstable price, particularly during the regular fruiting season; and presence of more intermediaries along the jackfruit supply chain.
VSU also reported that there is still a shortage of jackfruit production in the region. The total projected shortage was 8,784 fruit pieces per month.
This means that there is a big opportunity for the jackfruit industry to grow by continuing the distribution of recommended planting materials; improving the productivity of existing fruit trees; and now, through PCAARRD’s STCBF and TM projects.