RP bananas: Strong $ earner

The country’s banana industry brings in a thumping $250 million yearly in foreign exchange earnings. From an initial export of 29,755 boxes in 1968, the industry today supplies 81 percent of the banana requirement of Japan. Moreover, banana consistently ranks among the country’s top exports to the US, Middle East, China and other global markets.

Among the the top banana exporters in the country are the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (Tadeco) of the Floirendo family, Lapanday of the Lorenzo family, Anflocor, Stanfilco, Soriano Group and Marsman. The partnership between Anflocor and Tadeco exports Cavendish banana to Japan, Hong Kong, China , South Korea, Middle East , Singapore and New Zealand under the brand name "Del Monte."

Early Filipinos used to barter banana for cereals, livestock and other food items, utensils and ornaments. During those times, varieties planted included only lakatan, latundan, saba, senyorita, morado and bungulan.

Then came the first commercial cavendish banana seeds from Central America. In the late 1960s; the commodity made a big leap from the country’s shore towards the world markets. This was made possible with the commercial farming of cavendish in the 50s and 60s.

The introduction of cavendish into the country is credited to Dole, a subsidiary of Castle and Cooke. Some 176,00 seeds (root parts or suwi) were unloaded from M/V Benny Skou on Sept. 2, 1966 at the Calumpang Wharf in General Santos City. Planting of the new variety easily caught on especially in Davao del Norte which today accounts for 97 percent of the total industry hectarage and earning it the distinction of being the Philippine "banana belt."

Local pioneering commercial farmers — the Floirendos, the Tuazons, the Ayalas, the Soriano-Dizons and the Dalisays, among others — early on saw the prospects of commercial production of the variety. From the 73-hectare land of Dole-Stanfilco in 1966, the hectarage has expanded to 20,000 hectares as of today.

Some 80 percent of the country’s banana production for exports comes from the island of Mindanao which is blessed with being almost typhoon-free and a fairly even rainfall all year round. It also has a fertile soil suited to banana. Southern Mindanao which includes the provinces of Davao del Norte Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao City, Compostela Valley, Sarangani and South Cotabato is the largest producing area, supplying more than 43 percent of the country’s banana exports.

According to Carlos Munda Jr., corporate communications officer of the Antonio Floirendo Corp. (Anflocor) which does business in Davao, "Banana exports remain one of the highest dollar-earning ventures in the Philippines."

In 2000, fresh ripe bananas comprised 98 percent of the total volume of banana exports valued at $312 million. Other banana exports — representing two percent of the total — included banana chips or crackers, blossoms, banana ketchup and flour. These figures were contained in a report presented by Jocelyn Eusebio, Joselito Payot and Angelito Carpio during the recent "First Asia Pacific Network Steering Committee Meeting held at Los Baños.

Way back in 1993 the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Hong Kong became export markets for Philippine bananas. Two years later, China had become a big market for Philippine market.

Banana export earnings compare favorably with coconut product exports. Banana exports bring in $280-300 million annually in 330,060 hectares of plantations nationwide. On the other hand, with over four million hectares, coconut products could manage annual exports of only $700-800 million.

Bananas also offer economic benefits to small farmers, small middlemen, highway stall owners, community market vendors, fruit store owners and ambulant vendors. In Southern Tagalog, Bicol region and in the countrysides and highland farms across the country, different varieties of bananas can be seen in backyards and in coconut groves as intercrops.

Former executive director for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources Research and Development Dr. Ramon Valmayor said "banana is not just an economically important crop. It is also a fruit crop of social importance. Those of us who grew up in the province know that when poor rural families run out of staples – rice and corn – they turn to the ubiquitous banana."

The Department of Agriculture has been pushing for the approval of the country’s banana exports into Australia despite some opposition from Australian banana farmers and others sympathetic to their cause. Marketing campaigns seeking expansion of the global markets are being waged.

"Worldwide bananas are second only to grapes as the most profitable fruit. Therefore, in view of its contribution to the economy, the banana industry, the industry should be accorded more government support from officials willing to take the time to study and visit the plantations," Munda said.