The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has announced new measures to support the country's banana sector, which continues to face challenges from disease outbreaks and global competition.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the government will strengthen cooperation with the private sector to help the industry recover. "The (DA) is firmly committed to supporting our banana farmers and exporters in addressing this challenge," Tiu Laurel said.
Under the 2025 High Value Crops Development Program, the DA plans to distribute 106,000 banana planting materials for farm expansion and rejuvenation, together with 120,000 units of organic fertilizer to improve soil health. The program also includes the deployment of more than 215,000 biological control agents, such as Trichoderma, to protect plant health and reduce post-harvest losses.
Tiu Laurel identified the spread of Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4, commonly known as Panama disease, as the most urgent threat to the sector. He said the disease has already affected around 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region, threatening the Cavendish variety that underpins the country's export market.
Beyond domestic production issues, the secretary also pointed to the growing competition in global trade. He noted that Vietnam has overtaken the Philippines as the leading banana supplier to China, while exports to Japan remain less competitive due to higher tariffs compared with fruit from Vietnam, Mexico, and Peru.
Source: Philstar Global
