US gov’t supports redevelopment of ComVal banana industry

COMPOSTELA VALLEY, Philippines –  Banana growers in this once thriving agricultural province are still struggling to get back on their feet months after Typhoon Pablo swept about 40 percent of their production areas and plantations.

Exporters are having difficulty meeting delivery commitments to prime markets and have delayed banana shipments to the US for almost half a year.

“Losses to banana exporters due to Pablo have exceeded P1 billion. We have been forced to stop shipments to some areas,” said Bing Delos Reyes of the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA).

Banana is the country’s second largest agricultural export industry and Compostela Valley is responsible for about 14 percent of total production. In the last quarterly assessment released by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, banana production, which had steadily risen in recent years, posted declining figures owing significantly to the 16 percent drop in the Davao Region’s output following Typhoon Pablo.

US Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director Gloria D. Steele said, “Closer coordination among industry leaders, government and donor agencies, is important to accelerate the rehabilitation of banana production areas and restore livelihoods in the area.”

She added, “Helping farmers in Compostela Valley regain traction and preparing the local industry for the potential effects of climate change will directly impact the country’s overall export competitiveness.”

To this end, USAID, in partnership with the provincial and municipal governments of Compostela Valley and the Department of Agriculture (DA), organized a province-wide banana industry forum to harmonize rehabilitation efforts, showcase alternative crops, and promote climate change-adaptive farming systems and technologies.

The activity is part of the US Government’s P201 million ($5 million) Typhoon Pablo disaster recovery assistance implemented by USAID in partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Some 180 local growers, representatives of private firms, cooperatives and government line agencies participated in the dialogue.  Major banana exporters operating in the area, including Dole, SumiFru, Dizon Farms and the MBFEA presented their plantation rehabilitation plans and discussed related concerns with farmers and contract growers.

“We are grateful that the government and organizations such as USAID have taken an active role in bridging concerned parties,” Delos Reyes said.

For its part, the DA reported on the progress of the government’s cash for work initiative and provision of farm inputs and tools, which has so far benefited more than 4,000 growers in the province. The agency also committed to increase its level of assistance to small scale banana producers.

The DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry also updated participants on the development of technologies to combat the Panama disease (Fusarium Wilt) which has threatened the industry since late 2011 and has affected several banana farms in Compostela Valley and neighboring provinces.

Meanwhile, the government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines discussed its financing window designed to help growers fund the rehabilitation or expansion of their production areas. The bank also encouraged farmers to plant corn, cacao, cardava banana and cassava as alternative income sources while banana production areas are undergoing rehabilitation.

 â€œThis forum was very helpful. With so many people’s livelihood affected, we appreciate all the assistance we can get,” said Bernadette San Juan, assistant regional director of DA Regional Field Unit XI, adding, “We welcome the support of USAID which complements DA’s post-Pablo rehabilitation effort.”

Participants agreed that it was important to enable the immediate revitalization of damaged production areas, coordinate with government on the delivery of assistance to growers, assist growers in accessing farm inputs for the cultivation of alternative crops, and collaborate on the pilot-testing of control measures for the fusarium disease.

“Malaki ang nawala sa amin. Sa tulong ng mga ahensya tulad ng DA at USAID, nabigyan kami ng mga farm inputs at training. Umaangat na ang aming kabuhayan. [We lost a lot. But with the help of DA and USAID, we were given farm inputs and training. We are now moving forward.],” said Alexander De Jesus, a local farmer.

The US Government’s ongoing disaster recovery assistance also includes the establishment of techno-demo farms in the hardest hit municipalities in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. The farms showcase short-term cash crops such as corn and vegetables that could help increase food sufficiency, augment incomes and strengthen the climate resilience of affected communities.  

Other climate change adaptive technologies such as protective cropping, integrated pest management and vermi-composting would also be featured as alternatives to minimize the effects of unfavorable weather conditions and reduce overall production costs among farmers.  â€“ USAID-GEM