Resurgent fungal disease alarms banana growers

MANILA, Philippines - Banana growers in Mindanao are alarmed by the resurgence of a fungal disease that has the potential of wiping out banana plantations.

The banana plant ailment, called Panama disease, also known as Fusarium wilt, has been dormant for the past 50 years but is now again appearing in some plantations in some countries.

Caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum and resistant to fungicide and cannot be controlled with the use of chemicals, the Panama disease has found its way to Bukidnon in Mindanao where it has wiped out 1,200 hectares of banana plantation.

It has also contaminated some banana plantations in Compostela Valley and most recently in Sto. Tomas town in Davao del Norte province.

Amid the growing concern of banana growers, Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, is urging the government to push ahead with a legislation creating the National Research, Development and Extension Center for Banana (NRDECB) which, among other things, will conduct research on pests, diseases and other phytopathological factors that affect the growth of the banana industry.

There are two bills on banana research center pending in Congress now.

One was filed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. at the House of Representatives seeking to create a banana research center at the University of Southeastern Mindanao in Davao City with an initial annual budget of P200 million.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes has filed a similar bill at the Senate.

Antig said the banana industry needs the government’s help in fighting the dreaded Panama disease since the private sector cannot do it alone.

The creation of the banana research center, Antig said, would be a bold step toward finding a solution to address the Panama disease.

The PBGEA executive director also urged the government to reactivate the Mindanao Banana Disease Task Force that was created by the Department of Agriculture five years ago through Memorandum Order 22.