Speaking at the 32nd Joint General Assembly of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the Banana Export Industry Foundation (BEIF), Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday vowed stronger government support for the country’s banana sector, unveiling a package of interventions to fight the spread of Panama disease and restore competitiveness in global markets.
Under the High Value Crops Development Program for 2025, the DA plans to distribute 106,000 banana planting materials for farm expansion and rejuvenation, along with 120,000 units of organic fertilizer to improve soil health.
The DA will also deploy over 215,000 biological control agents such as Trichoderma to protect plant health and reduce postharvest losses.
The DA urged the newly-inducted PBGEA and BEIF leaders to carry forward the dual mission of protecting banana plantations from Fusarium wilt and strengthening local banana competitiveness abroad. ### (Photos by DA – RAFIS XI)
