Pablo wipes out banana plantations

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Super typhoon “Pablo” has worsened the situation of the country’s already troubled banana industry after more than 10,000 hectares of banana plantations were wiped out in Compostela Valley alone.

The local banana industry has been struggling with the sudden restrictions imposed by China early this year, the foreign exchange embargo on Iran, and the attack of Fusarium Wilt or Panama Disease in several plantations.

“The storm destroyed as of latest count 14,000 hectares of banana farms in Compostela Valley. Multiply 14,000 by four and you’ll get the number of banana farm workers affected by the destruction. Add to it the families who depend on these workers,” said Antonio Floirendo Jr., chairman of the Anflocor Group of Companies.

The Floirendos are among the top banana producers in the region.

Stephen Antig, executive director of Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said the figure reported by their members as of yesterday morning already reached 14,000 hectares. He said some were still assessing the damage brought by the storm to their plantations.

PBGEA is the umbrella group of Cavendish banana exporting companies.

Antig said the industry is asking President Aquino to help the already ailing industry now even more devastated by the storm.

“If we translate this to value, it’s about P5.7-billion worth of harvest for the yearend. It’s a pretty expensive opportunity lost for the industry,” he said.   

“But if we include the infrastructure, that would shoot up to P8 billion,” he added.

Antig said it would take months to fully rehabilitate the plantations and another nine months to wait for the harvest season.

“The average cost of rehabilitation for one hectare is P500,000 and it will cost us P5 billion to rehabilitate our plantations,” he said.

Aside from the severe damage left by the typhoon, Antig fears the flood might cause the spread of the banana disease, and some farms might no longer be suitable for replanting.

“We need the help of the government now like never before. We need to help the plantations recover just as fast and the communities that depend on it,” Antig said.

He said at least 150,000 people depend on the banana industry in Compostela Valley alone.

“We, the companies and the communities, cannot get out of this rut without the help of the government,” Antig said.