Cavendish exporters vow to aid independent players

CAVENDISH exporting banana companies are extending their hands to the Department of Trade and Industry, which is pushing for the growth and development of independent players who want to get involve in the industry.

In an interview with Sun.Star Davao, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association President Stephen Antig said that although they have not been invited by the trade department to take part in its Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (Diccep), they are very much willing to share their inputs.

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"We are glad to hear that DTI has not relegated to the background those players that are self-reliant and self-sustaining such as those in the Philippine export banana industry," Antig said. "One thing that we can provide input on is the importance of technology, credit facilities, and infrastructure for the development of the banana export industry."

DTI-Davao Region Chief Marizon Loreto and Tetsou Inoka, senior adviser for industry and development of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, called on the respective industry players of the Diccep to actively participate in the development of the industry clusters in order to expedite the region's economic growth.

"Both big and small players in the export banana industry have roles to play in maintaining the country's record performance," Antig said, adding that the self-reliant players should avoid sacrificing long-term gains in exchange with short-term benefits.

Some players, especially self-reliant players, are lured by artificial high prices and resort to pole vaulting or the reselling of contracted production to consolidators.

"The banana export industry was built over 43 years of hard work and sacrifice and we should not let it all go down the drain by tolerating these speculators whose only interest is easy profit," Antig said.

The Philippine export banana industry has clinched the top two spot in the global production and quality of bananas, second to the South American country of Ecuador. However, the country is first in terms of the productivity per hectare aspect of banana plantations.