The Philippines shipped the first batch of okra (ladyfinger) export to Japan on Tuesday as the Department of Agriculture (DA) tries to lead the country’s economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leading the send-off of two tons of okra was Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Magsasaka Party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat.

Dar said the Philippines is trying to corner a large chunk of Japan’s high demand for agricultural products, and we know that Japan is looking at high quality of agricultural products. 

As other business sectors continue to bleed on account of economic slowdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are blessed to have a sustained activity in the agri-industry front.

Dar told representatives of farmers groups present during the send-off that the okra export were harvested from various farms in 14 barangays in Tarlac – especially in Victoria, Balayang, palacpalac, Batang-Batang, lalapac, Mayang San Pascual, Villa Bacolor, Matayumtayum,Sam Jose San Manuel, Balingcanaway, Cutcut, and Lapaz.

The project involved at least 300 farmers, led by young farmer-entrepreneurs Jeffrey Fernandez and Rap Pelayo of Jel Farms.

With the present set-up, a farmer can earn up to 90,000 to 100,000 net of expenses per hectare of okra, Fernandez and Pelayo said.

Like okra, edamame is another in-demand agricultural product in Japan. Both products are in demand in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, and Nagoya. Harvesting schedule is from July to September while planting may be done all year-round.

Dar said earnings could easily reach up to P120,000 per hectare for okra and edamame if farmers could avail themselves of a cold storage.Under my watch, I assure you that the DA will extend all the assistance we can give to every farmer, including the group involved in this okra-edamame exportation to Japan to enhance our agriculture.