Squash is a winner in Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao, particularly Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, is where growing squash, particularly the Suprema variety, has developed into a year-round big business for farmers, traders and seed suppliers. Both small-scale and big growers are into growing this variety.
What could be the reason? Well, the farmers have discovered one variety that is preferred by consumers. This is the Suprema which was the first hybrid squash developed in the Philippines and released in 1987. Many other varieties have been introduced since then but it seems nothing can beat Suprema. It reigns supreme to this day.
The Suprema has excellent eating quality. It is glutinous and is preferred by most consumers. It is also very fruitful, each fruit usually five to six kilos, although with sufficient fertilization some fruits would weigh ten kilos or more each.
Although the farmgate price may be as low as P4 per kilo, it is still profitable to grow. According to Rumel Castilla, a big trader and a grower himself (30 hectares a year), it usually costs him P8,000 to plant one hectare and averages 12 tons of fruits a hectare. Even at P4 per kilo the 12 tons would gross him P48,000 for a P40,000 margin per hectare.
In the case of Pacifico Ramos Jr. of Malaybalay, another big-time grower of squash since 1991, he says he can harvest as much as 30 tons per hectare. That’s because his plants are well-fertilized with the manure from his poultry farm. He is the biggest contract breeder in Northern Mindanao with more than 100,000 breeding fowls at any one time.
There are two big “viajeros” of nothing but Suprema squash in Northern Mindanao. One is Rumel Castilla who is based in Malaybalay, and Virgie Llido based in Cagayan de Oro City.
The two of them ship hundreds of tons of Suprema each week to Metro Manila, Cebu City, Bacolod and Samar. Local buyers also pick up their requirements from Rumel and Virgie for distribution to different parts in Mindanao.
Big buyers from Manila and other places prefer to buy their requirements from the two big viajeros because they don’t have to deal with a lot of small suppliers from different places. It is much simpler to deal with one of the two viajeros because they have sufficient supply throughout the year.
And that’s how a thriving squash industry developed in Northern Mindanao. The right variety, farmers who grow the vegetable in large quantities throughout the year, and big traders who prefer to deal with just one or two suppliers.
