Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has vowed to support the banana sector in the country to help address the spread of Panama disease. The commitment came after the 32nd Joint General Assembly of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the Banana Export Industry Foundation (BEIF). The Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, or Panama disease, is a fungal infection that severely affects banana production.

According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the DA is “firmly committed to supporting our banana farmers and exporters in addressing this challenge.” He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Marcos administration and the private sector. Under the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program for 2025, the department plans to distribute 106,000 banana planting materials to rejuvenate banana farms. Additionally, 120,000 units of organic fertilizer will be provided for soil health improvement, and 215,000 biological control agents such as Trichoderma will be deployed to protect plant health and minimize post-harvest losses.

The DA reports that Panama disease has already impacted around 15,500 hectares of banana farms in the Davao Region, significantly affecting the Cavendish variety, which is crucial for the country’s banana exports. Tiu Laurel called for urgent actions to tackle challenges like international trade competition and the need for research and technologies to enhance the banana sector. He highlighted that Vietnam has surpassed the Philippines as the top banana supplier to China and that the country faces higher tariffs in Japan. Tiu Laurel stressed that with unity, science, and sound trade policy, the Philippine banana industry can recover and thrive.

Research areas needing attention include disease tolerance, breeding strategies, and innovations like gene editing.