December 21, 2009
Taiwan eyes Philippines post-harvest facilities
To serve local requirements and livestock production, Taiwanese firms are investing in post-harvest facilities for agricultural products particularly corn and livestock production in the Philippines.
Roque L. Mamon Jr., programme officer for development cooperation of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, said that Taiwanese investors were encouraged to invest in post-harvest facilities such as drying and storage following the successful adoption of Taiwanese corn technology production in Butuan in Mindanao.
According to Mamon, Taiwan is interested in sourcing at least 50,000 tonnes of yellow corn for feed production from the Philippines. At present, Taiwan imports six million tonnes of yellow corn.
So far, 50,000 hectares of land have been field-tested for the viability and adaptability for the production of hybrid corn. One post-harvest facility for one hectare of corn is estimated to cost PHP15 million (US$321,233) but the Philippines is looking at 20-hectare cluster of corn plantation.
''''Perhaps, in the next three to five years, we will be able to export feed grain to other countries like Taiwan,'''' Mamon said.
On the other hand, Taiwanese investments in the livestock sector would be located in Sarangani, General Santos, which is the country''s major producer of livestock.
There are also opportunities for the development of the country''s duck sector to supply both local and for Taiwan.