Judging by the response of readers to our column on the prospects of malunggay seeds for export which came out in Panorama magazine last May 23, a lot people are really looking for doable projects. Projects that can be done even by those with limited capital.
So many readers wanted to know the address of the trader who needs supplies of malunggay seeds for a buyer in China. Here’s an update on the subject. The local trader (Wency, tel. 724-0346) has sent a sample of five kilos to the Chinese buyer. The buyer, he says, is very satisfied with the sample. So he now needs the volume.
Malunggay offers a very good opportunity for seed producers because it is much cheaper to produce than other high-value crops such as mango. Malunggay can be grown even in marginal areas. It does not require expensive chemicals to protect it from pests and diseases. Neither does it need any flower or fruit inducer.
Planting materials are readily available. Also, there is also a market for fresh leaves and fruits in some parts of the country where people love to eat the leaves and fruits as vegetable. The fruits are particularly excellent for use in the "pinakbet" of the Ilocanos (not those pinakbet in Manila restaurants).
ANOTHER DOABLE PROJECT. Ernie Abalos also tells us of a very doable project now being done by a fellow in Pangasinan and which can be undertaken by others in many other places, especially those near Metro Manila.
The fellow in Pangasinan is planting a lot of the Butuan variety of banana which is very seedy and which many people would not care to eat. But he is not producing fruits for sale. Instead, he is growing the Butuan variety for the leaves.
He claims that he makes more money from the leaves which are in demand by "kamayan" restaurants, by makers of "tupig" and many other establishments. The Butuan banana is very hardy and its leaves are very durable for wrapping native cakes or for use in "kamayan" eating places. This banana is also rarely affected by disease.
This project could as well be undertaken by entrepreneurs living near Manila which is a very big market for banana leaves.
One advantage of this project is that it is not prone to poaching. Thieves will rarely steal banana leaves. If undertaken on a commercial scale, this project can provide a steady income for the proponent.
