Philippines: Banana industry to fully recover in 2015
Stephen Antig, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director, told Sun.Star Davao that around 80 percent of some 15,000 hectares of banana plantations that were affected by Typhoon Pablo in 2012 have already been rehabilitated as of this year.
For his part, Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA) chair Remegio Garcia, in a separate interview, also said 80 percent of the 6,000 hectares, which belonged to the small and medium scale farmers, of the 15,000 hectares have already been rehabilitated.
He said with the partial recovery they are hoping this year the industry would be able to produce around 180 million to 190 million boxes.
However, Antig pointed out that the return of investment for the money spent for rehabilitation would take another four to five years.
Garcia said around P380,000 per hectare is being spend for the rehabilitation of the banana plantations.
Despite the steady recovery of the industry, industry leaders said banana farmers and growers still face a lot of challenges particularly the fight against banana diseases like sigatoka and Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 and the fear of another typhoon to hit the region.
Source: sunstar.com.ph
