MANILA, March 11 (PNA) — Cebu-based Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center, Inc. (SPFTC) recently signed a grant contract with the Japanese government to upgrade its mango processing facilities and provide new equipments for its plant in Naga City in Cebu province.

SPFTC Managing Director Geraldine M. Labradores and Ambassador Makoto Katsura signed the agreement Wednesday at the Japanese embassy in Manila.

The project, valued at USD93,910 (about P4.3 million), will be funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

Philippine annual revenues from the mango industry amounts to about U.S.D1,400 million. Yet, small mango farmers, who are directly involved in mango production, have not fully benefited from the scale of the industry.

SPFTC built the fruit processing plant in Naga City to serve as a direct link between producers and consumers.

The SPFTC advances the fair trade practice by purchasing farm products at fair prices and delivers quality products to consumers.

Their activities have contributed to income increase of small farmers. However, due to the capacity limitation of the equipment they own, only limited amounts of fruit can be processed per day.

With the grant assistance, the SPFTC will purchase a new fruit dehydrator that has a larger capacity and two burner stoves that can also contribute to the improvement of productivity of mangoes —one of Cebu’s major products.

A haul truck will also be provided. Hygiene and sanitary condition of the plant will also be strengthened with new stainless steel basins and cooking vats to be purchased under the grant.

The Naga plant will also be improved to increase efficiency and productivity by having roofs insulated, drainage reconstructed and floor tiled.

SPFTC expects increased productivity would also increase the incomes of about 450 small farmers.(PNA)