TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan—To help develop the pineapple industry in the coastal town of Santa Ana, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority has extended its assistance to dedicated pineapple farmers there.
Joyce Marie Jayme-Calimag, Ceza public relations chief, said the freeport authority assisted the farmers in buying kitchen utensils and raw materials for developing pineapple products and in building a temporary display and production area.
“We also obtained a sponsorship from the Department of Science and Technology for the purchase of processing equipment such as drier, processor, among others, which the cooperative has just obtained,” Calimag said.
In 2013, the pineapple farmers organized themselves as a cooperative in partnership with Ceza. On March 22 that year, the Santa Ana Pineapple Farmer Growers Producer Cooperative was registered with the Cooperative Development Authority.
“We have recognized the potential of the [co-op’s] product that could also be traded in nearby towns and perhaps in other provinces nationwide,” Calimag noted.
She noted the cooperative started only with volunteers and a total of 32 members in 2013. Now it has 76 local farmer-members.
“Since then, the cooperative’s pineapple production has become a lucrative enterprise for the local community,” Calimag said.
The cooperative is working on a contract with a big local canning company and is eyeing to become a pineapple supplier to a big supermarket.
“Once the agreements push through, Santa Ana can become a renowned pineapple supplier of the country, comparable to Bukidnon, Davao and South Cotabato,” Calimag said.
The cooperative is working on maximizing pineapple production to make sure it is able to sustain its supply to clients in the long term. It is now tilling more than 46 hectares along Barangay Zinungan and in other villages in the town exclusively dedicated to pineapple production.
“Currently, majority of the farmers still use the traditional smooth cayenne pineapple variety, which is popular in Spain, Costa Rica, Brazil and other pineapple-producing countries,” Calimag said.
She said that prior to the organization of the cooperative, a number of local farmers have already produced pineapples for small scale consumption and local trading.
“We have then identified pineapple crop as a promising product that could give income and livelihood opportunities to the local farmers in Cagayan Freeport,” Calimag said.
The Department of Science and Technology, Cagayan State University-Gonzaga Campus and the Department of Trade and Industry also support the cooperative.
With Ceza, they have assisted the cooperative in institutionalization, technical assistance, skills enhancement, product development and marketing.
Calimag said the cooperative’s partners have trained cooperative members on processing their pineapple into jam, dried pineapple, ketchup, chutney, and oat bars. In 2016, the group was also trained in packaging and labelling their products.
“In their training, we have also included wine and vinegar on the list of its processed products,” Calimag said.
Meanwhile, Ceza is looking at establishing an annual pineapple festival in Santa Ana town, with pineapple now becoming a major food crop in the Cagayan Freeport.
CEZA was created under Republic Act 7922 or Cagayan Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 as a government-owned and controlled corporation by then President Fidel Ramos to manage and supervise the development of the 54,118-hectare Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport, which included the town of Santa Ana.