Philippines launches 2025 support plan for banana sector

In Philippines, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced a new set of interventions for 2025 to help the country’s industry contain disease outbreaks and stay competitive in key export markets.

According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, the DA will distribute 106,000 planting materials for farm expansion and rehabilitation, 120,000 units of organic fertiliser, and more than 215,000 biological control agents such as Trichoderma to strengthen plant health and reduce losses.

Tiu Laurel said Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4, or Panama disease, remains the industry’s most urgent problem, with about 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region already affected. The disease threatens the Cavendish variety that dominates Philippine exports.

He also noted the country’s weaker position abroad. Vietnam has overtaken the Philippines as China’s top banana supplier, while exports to Japan continue to face higher tariffs compared with Vietnam, Mexico and Peru.

Tiu Laurel said closer cooperation between the government and industry stakeholders is essential as the DA works to stabilise production and improve the sector’s global competitiveness.

source: philstar.com

photo: fexconnect.com