Department of Agriculture to put up banana packing facility in Davao

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to put up two common banana packing facilities in Davao that will comply to export standards.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the department, in partnership with the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA), plans to put up two banana packing facility in barangays Kinnamon and Casig-an, both in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte. The packing centers are worth P3.1 million each.

Alcala visited the prospective sites last June 20.

The construction of the facilities would be financed by Malacanang’s Social Fund which allotted P50 million for the construction of the new packing facilities and upgrade of existing ones to enable small banana farmers comply with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS).

Alcala said the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is inspecting small banana packing facilities in Davao region, and is accrediting those that meet required standards.

Alcala urged small banana growers to form themselves into clusters so they can be properly served by the common packing facility.

On the other hand, he urged large growers belonging to the Philippine Banana Growers Exporters Association (PBGEA) to share their technical expertise to small growers to enable them to meet export standards.

The DA intends to provide small growers technical and marketing assistance, and training through the BPI, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), and High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).