SQUASH

COMMODITY PROFILE

Scientific Name:
Cucurbita maxima
Common Name:
Squash, Pumpkin
Filipino: Kalabasa

INSIDE DETAILS

Technical Description
Botanical Description

Uses

Squash is a viny, creeping

and trailing crop producing
fruits and considered to be
one of the most delicious
vegetables. It is an excellent
source of beta-carotene
which is vitamin A and high
source of vitamin C, B, calcium
and iron. According to medical studies, squash flowers
contain lutein that prevents
cataract.

The young shoots, flowers

and fruits are used as
vegetables.

Matured can be made

into pies and other delicacies.

Seeds of mature fruits

can be boiled in slated
water, dried like watermelon seeds, roasted
and used as snack food.

Price Information

Geographical Flow
of Squash

Squash thrives well in tropical

climate and is abundant and
grown in the Philippines all
through-out the year. The
increasing demand, makes
farmers produce squash in
Philippines for commercial
sale. Suprema variety is the
most preferred variety by
farmers in Northern Mindanao.

Market Channels of
Squash

Status of the Industry

Cultural Practices

Philippine and
2
Northern Mindanao
Industry Performance

World Performance

Production of
Squash

Cost and Return

Trade Agreements

4
Future Trends for
Market Development and Investment Opportunities
4
4

September 2011

China is the lead producer of squash in the

world at a volume of
6,506,966 mt in 2009
followed by India at
4,108,510 mt volume of
production in the same
period.
These ranks are consistent from 2005-2009.

Lean production months

are observed from April
to June where prices are
high.

Since squash can be

planted throughout the
year, farmers specifically in Lantapan, Bukidnon based their planting
schedule on the current
market price of the commodity. They will decide
to plant if the price is
high then, majority of the
farmers will do the same
thus, there will be an
influx of supply during
harvest time.

Seasonality

Seasonality of squash is
based on the demand
variability as shown in
seasonal price index.

Peaks of production are

in the months where
prices are low and these
are in the months of August to September.

Top five squash producing countries, 2008-2009 (FAOStat).

Country

Prodn (Int $ 1000)

2008
2009

Prodn (mt)
2008

2009

1. China

1,081,975

1,106,996

6,359,764

6,506,966

2. India

713,850

720,382

4,071,260

4,108,510

3. Russian Fraion

167,245

196,968

953,840

1,123,360

4.United States

137,988

131,483

786,980

749,879

5. Egypt

114,296

122,737

651,859

700,00

Page 2

Philippine and Northern Mindanao Industry Performance

Squash: Philippine Volume (mt), Area (ha) and Productivity (mt/ha)
Squash: Northern Mindanao Volume (mt) of Production Trend
252,485.51

300,000.00
250,000.00

12,000.00

150,000.00

10,000.00

100,000.00
11,620.11 13,615.82

50,000.00

Area (ha)

2001-2005

17.53 18.54

600

6,000.00

Productivity
(mt/ha)

400
200

2,000.00
0.00

0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2006-2010

Source: BAS

Productivity
(mt/ha)
2001-2005 2006-2010 2001-2005 2006-2010 2006-2010

Area (ha)

Province

235.2
5.6
138.4

480.4
6.22
166.8

2,889.3
23.7
807.36

8,342.8
40.3
1169.45

17.4
6.5
7.0

Misamis Occ.
Misamis Ori.

54.8
101.4

112.4
178.6

398.3
940.9

1294.8
1741.8

11.5
9.8

Mean

107.1

188.9

1,012

2,517.8

10.4

Source: BAS

Squash Flower

Farm gate (FP), Wholesale (WP) and Retail Price (RP) of Squash

25
20
Philippines-FP
15

Northern Mindanao-FP
Philippines-WP

10

Northern Mindanao-WP

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Northern Mindanao-RP
2002

Philippines-RP

0
2001

2000

Production (mt)

Bukidnon
Camiguin
Lanao del

Price Information

Source: BAS

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Source: BAS

Philippines ranks 16th in the world

production of squash, pumpkins and
gourds in 2009 with a production value
of $43,441 at a volume of 247,759 mt.
Average volume of production of squash
in 2001 to 2005 recorded at
211,301.31 mt increased by 16% in
2006-2010. Area harvested also
increased by15% from the 2001-2005
average of 11,620.11 ha to 13,615.82
ha in 2006-2010.
In 2010, Northern Mindanao ranks 5th
among the regions in the Philippines in
terms of area planted to squash at
1,023.62 ha and ranks 8th in terms of
yield posted at 14,864.74 mt. Northern
Mindanaos production and area planted
to squash shows an increasing trend in the
last 11 years.
Among the provinces in the region,
Bukidnon posted the highest volume and
area planted to squash followed by
Misamis Oriental.

800

4,000.00
Volume (mt)

1000

8,000.00

0.00

1200

14,000.00

200,000.00

Squash: Northern Mindanao Area (ha) Trend

16,000.00

211,301.32

Generally, farm gate, wholesale and retail

price of squash in Northern Mindanao is
much lower than the national average.
Northern Mindanao average farm gate
price of squash in 2010 is P4.11/kg which is
lower by P3.97/kg or 49% compared with
the national average price of P8.08/kg.
Wholesale price in the national level is seen
to equal with the retail price in Northern
Mindanao in 2003, 2006, and 2008.
Wholesale price of Squash in the region
posted at P5.35/kg is lower by 50% than
the national average of P10.75/kg in 2010.
Increasing price trend in squash in the national level is observed from 2000 until
2009 but dropped in 2010. Retail price in
Northern Mindanao is lower by 32% compared with the national average of P19.89/
kg in 2010.

Page 3

Geographical Flow of Squash from Northern Mindanao

Percent Distribution of Volume Outflow of Squash from

Northern Mindanao, 2004-2008

Bacolod Bohol
6%
0%

Cebu
38%

Manila
53%

Ilo-ilo
3%

Source: DA-10 Regulatory and Quarantine Report

In the monthly average outflow of Squash

in Northern Mindanao from 2004-2008,
highest volume out-shipment is recorded in
August with a volume of 394 mt while the
lowest is in December with a volume 161
mt. The increase and decrease of the volume outflow is associated with the seasonal
demand of the commodity.

Seasonal Volume Outflow of Squash from

Northern Mindanao

Bacolod, Bohol, Cebu, Ilo-ilo

and Manila are the geographical destination points
of squash from Northern
Mindanao.
By market share, Manilas
demand of squash comprises
53% of the total outshipment from 2004-2008. It
registered an average volume of 3,016 mt.
Cebu comprising 38% of the
total out-shipment has a
mean volume shipped of
2,196 mt from 2004 to
2008.
In the same period, Bacolod
has a mean volume of 357
mt or 6% of the total outshipment.
Ilo-ilo having an average
volume of 190 mt takes 3%
of the total volume shipped.
Least volume of squash
reached Bohol with an average of only 6 mt or 0.10%
from 2004-2008.

600
400

Market Channel of Squash

200
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Source: DA-10 Regulatory and Quarantine Report

Page 4

Cost and Return

Squash Production

Farmers
Practice
Region 10

One other reason why farmers love to plant

squash is that it does not require much attention and
does not require a big capital to produce. Unlike
some high-value vegetables, it does not need any
trellis or stake to climb on. The vines are simply allowed to crawl on the ground. No expensive greenhouse is necessary. And the seeds are cheaper than
say hybrid tomato or eggplant.
Squash can be grown with minimum tillage but
for best result, plowing and harrowing the field two to
three times is recommended. One to two seed are
planted per hill and applied with rice straw or plastic
mulch are recommended to maintain soil moisture and
minimize growth of weeds.
Squash can tolerate drought but regular irrigation, especially during dry season enhances crop performance. Weeds may be controlled by hand pulling
or by shallow cultivation.
Cutworms and beetles can be controlled by
spreading ash on the leaves while fruit fly can be
controlled with the use of attractants. Disease is commonly infecting squash are mosaic virus, downy and
powdery mildew, and bacterial wilt.
For seed purposes, squash can be harvested 40
to 100 days after planting and for consumption purposes harvesting should be done when the rind be-

Amount (PhP)
Income
Cash Income

(@ 10,800kg/ha)

64,800

100,000
(@20 mt/ha)

8,890

27,550

3,600

4,500

0-00-60

1,600

1,206

14-14-14

5,700

2,469

46-0-0

1,800

1,942

Chicken Dung

5,000

4,800

3,700

6,000

6,400

Variable Cost
1. Labor Cost
Land Prep to Harvesting
2. Material Input
Seeds
Fertilizer

Pesticides
Other Materials (mulch)
3. Marketing Input
Sorting

880

na

3,375

na

Rent

3,000

10,000

Depreciation

3,875

1,853

Transportation cost
4. Fixed Cost

Future Trends for Market Development

& Investment Opportunities

Squash processing plant for flour, juice,

catsup, vinegar, noodle, chips, polvoron,
and pastillas.
Squash used for bakery products and
other by-products are good vehicles for
nutrient enhancement. Its Vitamin A content
will help address vitamin A related malnutrition affecting millions of Filipinos in the
country.
Market-production linkage in agribusiness
development, eg., contract, joint venture
etc.
Market introduction for squash flour as
ingredient in bread, cakes and other pastries.
Bakery products made with squash flour
for Vitamin A fortification.
Chips made of squash will be a good substitute to corn chip products.
Squash noodles will be a better nutrient
source.

Philippine
Recommend
Technology a

Interest

691

6,300

TOTAL COST

42,111

73,020

NET INCOME

22,689

26,980

ROC (Return on Cost)

0.54

0.37

Unit Cost to Produce

3.90

3.65

Information Bulletin, Squash Production Guide, PCARRD-DOST

Trade Agreements
The Philippines is a member of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade World Trade Organization (GATT-WTO). GATT-WTO has provisions that have significant impact on the countrys
agricultural sector. These are: (1)ncreased market
access through replacement quantitative restrictions
(QRs) with tariffs over a 10-year period, and a minimum importance access volume; (2) reduction of
domestic subsidies ; (3) reduction of export subsidies; and (4) harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS).

Prepared by:
Market Research Unit
Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division
Department of Agriculture
Regional Field Unit 10, Cagayan de Oro City
Khurzky 11