Mindanao's agricultural landscape, based on recent data from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), showcases coconut as the leading crop from 2019 to 2023. Coconut production totaled 44.6 million metric tons (MT), despite a decline to 8.96 million MT in 2023 from the previous year's 9.01 million MT. During this period, banana production followed at 38.22 million MT, with palay, sugarcane, and corn trailing at 22.40 million MT, 21.87 million MT, and 21.24 million MT, respectively.
Pineapple accounted for 12.52 million MT, placing it sixth. Other crops included cassava at 9.94 million MT, oil palm at 2.44 million MT, and rubber at 2.08 million MT. Lower volumes were seen in mango (1.35 million MT), abaca (143,145 MT), coffee (125,574 MT), and cacao (44,157 MT). Collectively, these 13 crops contributed 176.94 million MT over five years. Although coconut topped production, banana surpassed it as the leading export, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $1.22 billion. Coconut exports tallied $920.37 million.
MinDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro highlighted Mindanao's essential role in national export and food production. "We must improve our economies of scale, similar to what neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore have done," remarked Montenegro, emphasizing the potential for global market penetration upon achieving international standards. He reaffirmed MinDA's focus on agriculture, prioritizing agribusiness development, value chain integration, and coastal resource management.
Source: Minda News
