The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) showcased updates and advances in technology on banana during the exhibit at the Davao Trade Expo 2014, SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City from November 19 to 22.
Dubbed as “Davao: From local agriculture to global agribusiness,” the event combined an international banana symposium and an exhibit participated in by about 200 exhibitors from the banana industry.
Bananeros, researchers, scientists, and academicians from Davao and other parts of the country, as well as international delegates from Australia, Taiwan, Russia, Cuba, China, Indonesia, India, and Africa, participated in the event.
PCAARRD showcased seedlings and tissue culture of Cavendish varieties GCTCV-218 and GCTCV-219 which are resistant to Fusarium wilt or Foc Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4). It also highlighted the dwarf saba variety which was developed at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease in Cavendish bananas, has been threatening the livelihoods of majority of banana producers worldwide. It is a fungal disease that causes the blockage of nutrients from entering the banana plant, causing the leaves to collapse, the pseudostem to split, and eventually the plant to die. The soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is the cause of the disease.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 9.2 million tons of bananas in the country are affected by Fusarium wilt. In Mindanao, Foc TR4 is found in Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, North and South Cotabato, and other provinces of Region XI.
The Department of Science and Technology, through PCAARRD, has provided funds to offer immediate, yet long-term science and technology (S&T)-based solutions, to rehabilitate banana plantations in the Davao Region.
During the symposium, Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, PCAARRD Executive Director, presented the government’s initiatives in improving the banana industry through the Industry Strategic S&T Plan (ISP).
Other equally important topics were discussed during the two-day International Banana Symposium. These include the trends, challenges and opportunities in the banana industry; banana pest and diseases and mitigation measures; and management and conservation practices, among other topics.
Serving as discussant were experts from different fields involved in the banana industry such as trading firms (local and foreign), academicians, representatives from government organizations and regulatory agencies, among others.
Symposium participants were given the whole continuum of banana production in the Davao Region complemented with a visit to plantation, processing, and packaging facilities of a private agricultural development company in Panabo, Davao del Norte. They were also toured to the Davao International Container Terminal, Inc., a world class port terminal in Mindanao which also handles shipping of bananas intended for export.