Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture is bringing good news because the Philippines has reportedly started exporting okra or ladyfingers to Japan on Tuesday, which will increase the income of some farmers.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DA said that about 300 farmers are involved in producing export-grade ladyfingers products harvested in various plantations in 14 barangays in Tarlac.
DA Secretary William Dar and agripreneurs Jeffrey Fernandez and Rap Pelayo of Jelfarm Fresh Produce Enterprise led the initial shipment of two tons of ladyfingers to the Pair-pags Center in Pasay City.
“This is an indication that in spite of Covid-19, we are upping the game. Kagaya nitong okra export to Japan, this is a significant development,” Dar said.
According to the DA, an estimated five tons of okra will be shipped overseas by Jelfarm each day at the start of the harvest season. It is still possible to reach 13 to 15 tons per day during the peak season.
The cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, and Nagoya, are said to be the leading markets for ladyfingers from the Philippines.
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Philippines begins exporting okra to Japan
“We recognize the efforts of Jelfarm for increasing export of okra to Japan. Japan is a key market for our produce, and they are fond of eating okra as part of their diet,” according to the secretary.
“It’s a win-win arrangement because the farmers planting these are getting higher levels of income compared to rice,” he added.
According to Fernandez, his father was looking for another source of livelihood for farmers in Tarlac due to the unstable income from rice price.
“Ang okra kasi, you can start harvesting within 55–65 days upon seeding and you can harvest it every day for 75 days straight,” he explained. “It’s a fast turnaround crop, high-yielding crop, and a good source of income for the farmers.”
On one hectare of land, the farmer can harvest 500 kilograms to a ton of okra in 75 days, and earn P80,000 to P120,000.
Jelfarm said he would expand the production of export-quality ladyfingers in collaboration with the DA, Bureau of Plant Industry, and farming cooperatives.