The High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) participated in the area validation and preparatory orientation and consultations for the implementation of the LIFT Project, which aims the sustainable production of pineapple and lakatan bananas in the Municipality of Limay. The Project promotes local government support for the contract growing of quality pineapples and Lakatan bananas by Limayan Farmers in the Municipality of Limay, wherein the farmers are assured of an institutional buyer for their produce while providing a stable market supply of the contracted commodity. 

The LIFT Project aims to promote inclusive growth, value addition, and economic diversity by (1) promoting market access and institutionalizing a contract growing scheme between the farmers and the buyer for the production of quality crops that meet the buyer’s specifications; (2) providing technical, financial, and/or other forms of needed assistance to the farmers to ensure the quality production of crops; and (3) providing traceability and geographic flows in the marketing of high-value crops. 

Around fifty (50) farmers from various barangays of the Municipality participated in the orientation for the planting of pineapple and bananas. The participants were assured by the Municipal Government of Limay of production capital and ready market for their harvests covering an initial area of fifty (50) hectares for export quality MD2 pineapples and twenty (20) hectares for lacatan bananas. 

The partnership will be sealed with a Memorandum of Agreement among the Department of Agriculture, the Municipal Local Government Unit of Limay, and MENSCH FIL-AM Corporation as the institutional buyer. 

The LIFT Project was initiated by the HVCDP headed by its Program Director, Dr. Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban.

HVCDP PMO:

Atty. Joycel Robles Panlilio

Jeff Rodriguez