Small and Independent

Banana Growers Forum - A

good head start!
The banana industry has been losing billions of pesos, since the
Chinese government has started imposing stricter regulations for
imported bananas coming from the Philippines since March of this year.
This concern started when quarantine officers in China found mealybugs
and scale insects in a box of banana. As part of Chinas new regulations,
if insect pests were found even in a single box of banana, the whole
container van shall be rejected and brought back to the country of origin
at the exporters expense or will be disposed by the Chinese
government.
The forum was participated by different small and independent banana
growers coming from different areas in Mindanao like Panabo City,
Tagum, Compostela Valley and other parts of Davao del Norte, South
Cotabato and Davao del Sur; the Department of Agriculture through the
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and the Bureau of Plant Industry
(BPI), represented by Directors Norlito R. Gicana and Dr. Clarito M.
Barron, respectively. Also present in the forum are representatives from
Crop Protection Industry.
Dr. Maria Emilia Rita G. Fabregar, Technical Committee Chair of the
Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA)
discussed the different Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in Banana to
combat different insect pests and diseases. She highlighted the
importance of cultural practices like debelling and deflowering, since
these parts are conducive for insect infestation. Others include pre and
postharvest practices such as weeding to remove alternate hosts for
diseases, regular washing of the pseudostem, using pressurized water
to wash bunches in order to avoid wounding, wearing of hairnet during
packing and simply maintaining cleanliness of the packinghouses.

For quarantine updates, Mr. Ramon G. Milloria, Chief, Plant Quarantine

Services (PQS) Region XI discussed activities for banana plantations,
which include formation of teams to survey and eradicate Fusarium wilt.
Progress of the accreditation imposed by the DA as part of China
regulations was also discussed. There are currently 14 exporters and
305 packing facilities already accredited, which are PBGEA members,
while there were 16 exporters and 37 packinghouses from non-PBGEA
group. More rigid inspection of the 5% (previously 2%) total volume of
bananas for export is done in different ports.
As part of the efforts of the government to help banana growers and
exporters, BPI Director Clarito M. Baron stated that committee was
formed to evaluate the allocation of funds provided by the government to
help small and independent growers renovate packinghouse to cope up
with standards imposed by China. Furthermore, he mentioned that
letters were sent to 13 countries, which include Israel, Pakistan and
Jordan to open possibility of exporting bananas. He added that there is
also opportunity for domestic consumption through government agencies
like DSWD and DOH. Farm Score Packing Plant
After the forum, an inspection in one of the packinghouse of independent
banana grower in Tugbok District, Davao City was conducted by Dr.
Norlito R. Gicana, Dr. Clarito M. Baron, FPA Regional Officer Ms.
Estrella Laquinta, CPAP President Mr. Arturo A. Alejar, Jr., CPAP
Executive Director Mr. Alfredo Gonzales and other representatives from
the industry, Mr. Lino Rondon, Mr. Joel Laserna and Mr. Reming
Obedoza. The group will make recommendations on how to improve
such packinghouse facilities.
Banana industry stakeholders are working hand in hand in facing these
challenges on one of the countrys top dollar earners. The said activity is
a joint initiative of the Crop Protection Association of the Philippines
(CPAP) and the Department of Agriculture, through FPA and BPI.