THE Department of Trade and Industry-Davao Region (DTI-Davao) recorded P150 million in new investments for Cavendish banana exports and P85 million for banana chip exports in 2024.
During the Annual Media Interface on December 12, DTI-Davao del Norte Officer-in-Charge Provincial Director Zerline Balleque highlighted that these investments generated 1,000 jobs in the banana sector.
Despite this progress, Balleque noted that the sector is still grappling with the effects of Fusarium wilt, commonly known as Panama disease, which has forced the closure of several banana farms.
To combat the fungus, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGUs) are employing innovative technologies such as fertilizers and drones.
“Fusarium wilt remains a natural challenge. Aside from that, there are also issues with exporting banana products, particularly in making the process more cost-efficient,” Balleque said. She added that while small farms are still struggling, large plantations adhering to good manufacturing practices (GMP) have access to advanced technologies that help limit the disease’s impact.
Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Cubense, primarily affects banana plants, leading to wilting and eventual death. The disease was first discovered in Panama in the early 20th century.
From January to December 2024, DTI-Davao assisted 30 exporters, resulting in P45.9 million in export sales and P41 million in domestic sales.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao (PSA-Davao), bananas remained the top export in the Davao Region in 2023, generating total revenues of $1.19 billion.
Coconut oil ranked second with an export value of $263.95 million. Bananas accounted for 48.18 percent of the region’s total exports, solidifying their role as a key economic driver. DEF