by Antonio L. Colina IV
If there’s one high-value crop that earns the country and farmers millions of dollars worth of exports, it’s bananas.
But lucky for the big companies who can fend for themselves the recovery costs whenever catastrophes hit the heavily agricultural-based Mindanao island.
Remigio Garcia, chairman of the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA), said small and medium scale banana growers are at higher risk of losing the business in the face of climate change coupled with dreaded Fusarium Wilt, more commonly known as Panama Disease, and Sigatoka Disease.
During the International Banana symposium 2014 at the 16th Davao Trade Expo (Date) at SMX Convention Center Davao, he said it’s only a matter of time that small and medium growers will be “out of the picture” if the government support remains scant.
Last 2012, Typhoon Pablo (International name: Bopha) affected a total of 15,000 hectares of banana plantations but the assistance they received from the government was measly.
There was P5,000 loan assistance from Land Bank of the Philippines but not all farmers were able to avail of this. These farmers can only hope that no more typhoon with the same intensity as Pablo to make landfall in region ever again.
The total hectarage of banana plantations in Mindanao is 80,000 hectares with 200,000 direct workers. Of which, 24,000 hectares, or at least 30 percent, are comprised of the plantations of the small and medium banana growers.
Considering the scope of areas covered by MBFEA members, he said small and medium growers, or the independent growers, play a vital role in Mindanao’s banana industry, which was only dominated by big players 10 years ago.
“When I say small and medium banana growers, I’m referring to growers who are not contracted with multinational companies,” he added.
The greater challenge for both the big, the small, and the medium players is how to deal with Panama disease, which has already affected some plantation in Mindanao where a total of 3,000 has already been abandoned.
He called on the government to help them establish a laboratory where they can do a scientific research on Panama Disease-resistant variety because independent growers cannot afford it on their own.
“We need to unite and find out how to fight the disease,” he said.
The executive even suggested to the government that it should collaborate with a multinational company to find a solution to address Panama Disease or else it will just be a matter of time that they will be out of the picture.
Although there’s a variety said to be resistant of the disease, this is not yet conclusive while its supply is very limited.
Garcia also raised his concern for a more improved farm-to-market roads and bridges that will ensure the transport of banana produce.
In a forum, Dr. Agustin Molina, honorary research fellow and officer-in-charge of the Asia Pacific Commodity Systems and Generic Resources Programme of Biodiversity International, said the researchers in the country have left wanting for more government support for research fund.
Source: Sunstar