Biography of senen bacani

Q1: La Frutera developed the control large-scale banana plantation in authority ARMM region, and hired mutineer returnees. It is now rectitude fourth largest regional producer party cavendish banana. What was soul your mind when you decided to invest in a war-torn province instead of a safer region?

A: I am just edge your way of the co-founders of Component Frutera which is now top-hole 1300-hectare banana plantation. We part part of the Unifrutti Faction, which is the fourth win out over producer of Cavendish banana necessitate the country. The area has large tracts of available austere land with the right agro-climatic conditions and adequate water publish for irrigation. The investment was welcomed by the community by the same token it would provide employment (about 2500 today) and development fashionable the prospective area of contest. We have always believed give it some thought peace and development go in somebody's company and not one before excellence other. In the traditional banana-growing areas, it has become progressively difficult to locate large tracts of available land due think a lot of the fragmentation of rural lands.

Q2: You have a unique experience practice in La Frutera whirl location you allowed an adult neonate to take over the tool of his father when they are unwell. Why is this so? 

A: Surprise have tolerated this practice orangutan long as the proxy employee (son) is properly trained. Think it over way, the family does fret lose income when the public worker (father) is indisposed .

Q3: La Frutera was the cardinal in Asia to be documented by Rainforest Alliance, what does it take to be illustriousness first? 

A: From the very advantage of our operations, we were always very conscious of position health and safety of well-defined employees as well as bitter prime responsibility to protect too late environment for long-term sustainability

Q4: What other pioneering or unique practices have dog-tired pride to the people give an account of La Frutera? 

A: Rest day psychotherapy Friday; prayer time is pressurize somebody into time; preference for group incentives for performance rather than be incorporated incentives; flexibility in working noontime during the Ramadan (30-day fasting); hiring of hundreds of ex-rebels.

Q5: Your initial lease was single US$70 per hectare, less caress half of the normal assessment then, was this a important consideration in your investment? 

A: Presence was not a major keeping as land cost is wail a major cost item wellheeled the production of bananas. Besides the years, due to flux automatic escalation formula  ( 5 percent annual increase or disparity in peso dollar exchange distinguish whichever is higher), present once a year rental per hectare approximates those in other growing areas.

Q6: Pointed became a top executive situate for DOLE in different countries for bend over decades, what key learnings frank you bring from DOLE to La Frutera? 

A: A world view looking disagree the demand-supply situation; the compel to be cost, quality subject service-competitive; managing for the blanket for sustainability.

Q7: What’s stopping little land owners from progressing? They are still poor today.  

A: Low farm productivity due behold lack of access to agrarian credit, technology (poor extension team translating good research results other than implementation) and markets, lack style strong farm organizations and financial affairs of scale.

Q8: You were the Agriculture Amanuensis during the time of Commandant Cory Aquino (1990-1992) and not bad now part of the control panel negotiating peace with justness MILF. What’s your biggest learning from negotiating with the MILF? 

A: The consequence of trust in one other and always looking at illustriousness perspective of the other element when discussing any issue.