The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will launch a field learning program for Cavendish Banana farmers who would like to discover the formula used by Unifrutti Philippines in controlling and preventing the spread of “Fusarium Wilt,” a soil-inhabiting fungus which has devastated thousands of hectares of banana farms in Mindanao.
This program will be undertaken following the offer of Unifrutti Philippines and its officers in the Manupali Agri Development Corp. farm in Valencia City, Bukidnon to share the farm practices which were applied to control the devastation and spread of “Fusarium Wilt,” commonly known as the Panama Disease.
It was Unifrutti Philippines President Alberto Bacani during a visit to the abandoned La Fruttera farm in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao in June this year who shared with MinDA the information on their successful experiment in controlling the spread of the virus which in 2014 had destroyed the 286-hectare MADC farm and dislocated some 1,000 workers.
On Wednesday, I personally visited the farm and met with the Unifrutti team which undertook a 6-year field experiment to control the spread of Fusarium Wilt led by Jose Barrosa and plant pathologist Lalaine Albano-Narreto.
Barrosa, general manager of MADC, said the story of the success of the farm in controlling Fusarium Wilt had already spread to as far to the Cavendish growing countries of South America.
In fact, he said, banana industry stakeholders in at least two South American countries had already visited the MADC Farm and documented the practices undertaken by the field scientists of Unifrutti.
Narreto said that since 2016, when the first proofs of a successful trial were seen, Unifrutti and MADC had started sharing the farm practices with local government units of Davao del Norte, one of the areas hardest hit by Fusarium Wilt, and other banana corporations.
“Dugay na namu na ginabuhat Secretary. Other companies started benchmarking since 2016 and ng suon na dayun ang uban- hangtud mga LGU’s na sa DaVnor,” she said.
(We have been doing that. Others followed the benchmarking including the LGUs of Davao del Norte.)
Narreto said that aside from introducing a new variety, UCL4, the company also retained its old variety, the Tall Williams, after it was established that even Fusarium Wilt-susceptible varieties could be protected using efficient farm practices developed over the last six years.
The Panama Disease had devastated many Cavendish Banana Farms in Mindanao over the last decade leading to the closure of farms and dislocation of workers.
Unifrutti and MADC’s farm practices which they are willing to share with other stakeholders and farmers could lead to the recovery of the banana industry and boost Mindanao’s economic recovery.
MinDA’s engagement with Unifrutti and MADC aims to include local government units with vast banana farms.
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(The first two photos were provided by MADC showing the areas previous affected by Fusarium Wilt and “cleaned” using the MADC Fusarium Wilt Control Protocol. Other photos taken by MinDA on Wednesday show healthy bananas in the plantation and the two lead persons in the successful field experiment – MADC general manager Jose Barrosa and plant pathologist Lalaine Albano-Narreto. Last two photos show Unifrutti President Alberto Bacani during a visit to Datu Paglas with MinDA officials in June this year)
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