Philippines: Banana chips regains confidence

AFTER the closure of banana chips processing plants in Davao del Norte province due to the lack of export market two years ago, plant owners and cardava farmers are beginning to gain back the confidence on their product.

The value of processed banana chips increased from last year's 80 centavos to P5 per kilo. Faustino Salting, president of the Davao del Norte Fruits and Vegetables Council, said this is due to the increased investors' confidence on the banana chips supply from the province.

"Right now, there are 45 countries importing banana chips from Davao del Norte," he said. This has also pushed for the re-opening of processing plants, which has now totaled to eight in Davao del Norte. He also said that more and more farmers have gone back to planting cardava after seeing the high demand of the product.

From the previous year's 1,300 hectares planted with such variety, land area allocated for cardava increased to 2,500 hectares. Seeing the need to put up more processing plants to absorb the banana supply planted by the farmers, the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) recently granted P2.9 million for the said council to construct another processing plant.

"The DIDP has seen the capability of the council to better our production and this also helps many poor farmers from being manipulated by the traders," Salting stressed.

The province of Davao del Norte is proud to be exporting flavored banana chips like peanut, pineapple, jackfruit, etc. Foreign buyers said to have loved the different varieties of banana chips produced from the said province.

Salting urged local consumers to also patronize our own Philippine product as a good substitute for the unhealthy junk foods loved by children.

"People from other countries love our banana chips. But sad to say, Filipino children still prefer the commercial junk food over this product," he said.

Source: sunstar.com.ph