'Production, funding issues key to higher agri exports'

The government must resolve persisting trade and production issues and hike its financial support to key high value crops (HVC) like bananas to boost their export performances, according to the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO).

- JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

In a report, SEPO listed the revealed comparative advantages (RCA) of some of the country's agricultural exports in recent years.

The RCA quantifies a country's trade advantage by using opportunity cost associated with producing a specific good, according to the SEPO.

"To illustrate, having a comparative advantage for Product A means a country can produce more of Product A by giving up less of other goods compared to another country," SEPO said.

SEPO noted that preserved pineapples, fresh or dried bananas and fresh or dried crabs have been laggard in the world market, meaning they show declining export volumes and shrinking market shares.

Meanwhile, pineapple juice and preserved tuna were considered as underachievers because of their declining market share despite growing export volume, according to the report.

Dessicated coconuts and manufactured tobacco were identified as achievers as they post declining exports but expanding market share.