By Gio J. Tanudtanud
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture-XI plans to help and rehabilitate the banana industry to increase production in the region.
During the Agribiz forum at SM Lanang, Abel James I. Monteagudo, DA XI regional executive director of DA XI, said they would address the slowing down of production.
He said insufficient production has nagged the banana industry for seven to eight years now. Meanwhile, the recent flooding affecting Davao Region only aggravated the situation.
Among the primary factors that impact production include diseases and the rising cost of inputs.
For instance, the Fusarium wilt also known as the Panama disease is a fungus that kills banana plants and has no known cure yet.
“Dahil marami ang nag discontinue, bumaba ang production. So, yun ang gustong i-save at i-recover ng government with the Department of Agriculture. Ang stand ng office of the secretary ngayon is talagang kung pwede manumbalik ang sigla ng (the Office of the Secretary wants to revitalize the) banana industry” he said.
He said they are exploring innovations and technologies to boost production in a cost-efficient way.
“One of those na pwedeng gamitin as a solution is to use the technology of the drone. Although some of the plantations na are using the drone, not everyone is using the drone,” he said.
