CATEEL, Davao Oriental, Mar. 13 – Top official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has met with local chili processors here in a bid to discuss improvement in this so-called “hot Pablo” product.
Undersecretary for DTI’s Regional Operations Group Zenaida C. Maglaya met with six chili processors and some chili farmers coming from Cateel, Baganga, and Boston last February 23 to lay down their issues and concerns so that appropriate actions will be made.
It can be recalled that Super Typhoon Pablo hit the country last December 4, 2012. This particular calamity hardly hit the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.
Davao Oriental, being home to some of the Philippines’ top coconut producers, had some difficulties rising from the devastation. Thus, finding an alternative income-earning activity was greatly needed.
In the said meeting, four major issues were identified, to wit: raw material requirements for hot native chili; buyers for fresh chili, dried chili, and processed chili products; support to working capital and processing equipment like mechanical dryers and electric grinders; and a processing center that is compliant to the standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Having these concerns at hand, the following agreements were reached: the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will comply with the FDA standards under its License to Operate registration for them to penetrate institutional buyers; and develop a market consolidator for fresh chili.
The Small Business Corporation (SBC), Land Bank of the Philippines and Department of Social Welfare and Development-Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP) will be tapped for financing or working capital assistance; institutionalize meetings and consultations with the industry stakeholders to discuss about industry updates and come up with an industry harmonized action plan.
One shared service facility (SSF) will be established in each of the three municipalities to address the problem on mechanical dryers, electric grinders, and other hot chili processing equipment; and provision of technology on chili farm management by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
DTI 11 officer-in-charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi said these agreements must really be implemented since the industry is really promising.
“Hot chili definitely has high potential as an industry. It is market-driven and the technology for its production is available,” she said.
The hot chili industry in the Pablo-stricken areas of Davao Oriental has, thus far, seven processors supported by 763 chili farmers. So far, the industry has already generated P1,625,976 in domestic sales and US$52,291.66 in exports. (DTI-11/JenMendoza)
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