Philippine exports of cavendish bananas are expected to be flat at $1.6 billion this year due to lack of significant farm expansion and the continuing threat of Panama disease, according to the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. (PBGEA).
“Last year, (export value was) a bit below $1.6 billion, a reflection of dwindling hectarage because of Panama disease infestation. This year, (it’s) almost similar since there were no big expansions… A lot of multinational growers prefer to expand in Ecuador and other Latin America countries because of the perceived risk of Panama disease in the Philippines,” said Alberto Bacani, PBGEA chairman, in a virtual briefing yesterday.
Panama disease is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum that enters the banana plant’s roots and colonizes the xylem vessels, blocking the flow of water and nutrients which can cause the wilting and death of the crop.
PBGEA said the plant disease rapidly spread in Mindanao after Typhoon Pablo hit the country in 2012.
Bacani said prior to that, there were only 3,931 confirmed cases of Panama disease but the number jumped to more than 20,000 hectares to date.
Bacani did not disclose the projected volume but last year, production stood at 162.2 million boxes weighing 13.5 kilogram each. That was a decline from 195.5 million boxes in 2019.
Bacani also said at present, the industry has developed Cavendish banana varieties that are tolerant but are not yet resistant to the Panama disease.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the Philippines also remained as the second largest exporter of bananas in 2020, next to Ecuador as the leader.
Among the biggest buyers of bananas from the Philippines are Japan, China and South Korea.
