NEWSFLASH

PILI NUT TO COMPETE WITH ALMONDS, WALNUTS, MACADAMIA

Legazpi City, Jan. 9, 2000- The pili nut, identified mainly with the Bicol region, may soon be competing with almonds, pecan, walnuts, and macadamia nuts in the global confectioneries market.

Agricultural development planners of Region 5 have unveiled a six-year master plan aimed at fully developing the native pili's vast commercial and industrial potentials and in the process convert typhoon-prone Bicol into the world's top producer of pili nuts and by-products.

One of their goals is to allow pili to penetrate the multi-billion dollar global confectioneries industry dominated by Europe and the United States. They want the indigenous nut to find its place inside every Cadbury, Van Houten, Nestle, and other popular chocolate brands, now occupied by almond, pecan, walnut, macadamia, and pistachio, among others.

In a program document submitted to the Department of Agriculture, proponents of the project noted that pili stands a good chance of dislodging macadamia in the world market because of its tastier meat.

The proposal was presented as Bicol's investment and development focus under the strategic agriculture and fisheries development zone (SAFDZ) concept espoused by Republic Act 435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act authored by then Senate president and now Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara.

For the vision to turn to reality, an initial P153 million is needed for planting of pili trees. While demand has picked up, production cannot cope as planted area has shrunk 4.9 percent yearly from 1,615 hectares in 1990 to 1,245 hectares in 1995.

Advocates of the project, which include the governors of Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon, said another P55 million will be needed for post-harvest and infrastructure support, particularly for the establishment of pili technology centers and installation of processing equipment.

Pili, 71.5 percent of which comes from Bicol, is one of the top seven agricultural exports of the Philippines. It has already found its way to Guam, Australia, Canada, and the United States, while European countries have expressed strong commercial interest in it.