Philippines: banana expansion to sustain export growth

Multinational company Dole Philippines and six other banana exporting firms have tied up with farmers for the expansion of banana plantations by some 15,000 hectares in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte to sustain Philippines’ 8.8 percent yearly banana export growth and augment its $360 million earnings.

Aside form Dole, the following banana exporters are participating in the project: Marsman and Drysdale, Tagum Development Corp., Mt. Kitanglad Agri Ventures Inc., Panabo Multi-purpose Cooperative, and Basid Farmers Association.

Agriculture Regional Executive Director Joel S. Rudinas said 8,701 hectares will be planted to fresh Cavendish bananas in Bukidnon, while 631 hectares will be planted to Cardaba banana in Lanao del Norte.

"This forms part of government’s 10-point agenda which includes the development of new agribusiness lands which should generate two million farm jobs," Rudinas said.

In Lanao del Norte, the Cardaba banana planting will be used for processing banana chips also exported to Japan, United States, China, Europe, and the Middle East.

"Cardaba banana will be inter-cropped with coconut plantation," said Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Q. Dimaporo who has provided a tissue culture laboratory with a capacity of producing 10,000 disease-free banana seedlings.

The Lanao government will also extend technical assistance to farmers on growing Cardaba banana.

"Farmers have adopted the 15 meter x 15 meter planting distance that would give a planting density of 45 hills/hectare, " said Tubod (in Lanao) Muniicipal Agricultural Officer Rosario A. Ulaco.

The Bukidnon Cavendish banana expansion will be in Impasugong ( 443 hectares); Talakag ( 841 hectares); Valencia ( 99 hectares); Maramag ( 542 hectares); Pangantucan ( 118 hectares); Sumilao ( 668 hectares); Lantapan ( 2,417 hectares.);Malaybalay ( 821 hectares); Pangantucan ( 800 hectares); San Fernando ( 500 hectares); Dangcagan ( 60 hectares); Kitao-tao ( 31 hectares); Malitbog ( 285 hectares); Baungon ( 633 hectares); Cabanglasan ( 11 hectares); Kadingilan ( 8 hectares) ,and Quezon ( 25 hectares).

"There is an increasing demand for banana specifically cardava, lakatan and Cavendish varieties both for local and international markets. The banana production program of the province is projected to generate 2,524 jobs. It takes four people to work on a hectare of land planted to banana," said Rudinas.

The Lanao Cardaba banana will be situated in barangays Pinpin, KakaiRenabor, Barakanas, Tubaran, Palao, Camp 5, Dalama, Kalilangan, Caniogan, Bulod, Patudan, Tagurano, Sto. Nino, Malingao, Candis, Licapao, Bualan, Pualas and San Antonio in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The Philippines posted an 8.8 average banana export growth from 1999 to 2003.

"In 2003, exports reached 1,855,382 metric tons (MT) with total value placed at $357.349 million. These represented increases of 8.59 percent in volume and 8.25 percent in value compared to 2002," said Rosalina S. Olympia, DA statistician I.

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