DUE to the country’s wide assortment of tropical fruits consisting of more than 20 different species which are cultivated in the different regions, the fruit industry can contribute to the economy of the Philippines.
For example, the eight leading species that are grown in the country include banana (Musa sp.) pineapple (Ananas comosus), mango (Mangifera indica), papaya (Carica papaya), calamansi (Microfortunella microcarpa), durian (Durio zibethinus), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), and lanzones (Lansium domesticum), based on the volume of production.
In can be seen that the production of banana went up by 2.1 percent, from 2.10 million metric tons in 2017 to 2.14 metric tons this year.
This is based on a data from the Philippine Statistics Authority for the period January to March 2018.
More than one third or 36.7 percent of the total banana production came from Davao Region followed by Northern Mindanao with 24.4 percent, and SOCCSKSARGEN with 13.0 percent.
Production methods may range from backyard to systematic operation which caters to the export market.
It can be noted that backyard farms are generally small in size with minimal care resulting to low yield.
To support and boost the fruit industry in the country, at least two projects are now being funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Identified as priority commodities under the Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) for 2017-2022, and DOST-PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP), banana and mango are among the fruit crops being studied under the “ACIAR-PCAARRD Horticulture Program on Fruits and Vegetables.”
Titled “Integrated management of Fusarium wilt (FW) of bananas in the Philippines and Australia,” the project aims to reduce the impacts of FW and improve the productivity and viability of banana plantations managed by smallholders.
The accomplishments of the project include the identification of mesh wire boot as the most effective scrub in removing soil to limit the spread of disease inoculum; report on the economic feasibility of growing “Giant Cavendish” tissue-culture variant (GCTCV) 218 in Foc infested area; and the conduct of the Mindanao-wide banana symposium participated by 140 banana growers and Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs).
While the second project titled “Research and development of integrated crop management for mango production in the southern Philippines and Australia” intended to reduce product losses due to pests and diseases, decrease inputs costs, and improve quality and yield of mango to increase the profit of the growers.
The project’s accomplishments include the identification of parasitoids as potential natural enemies of cecid fly; demonstration and training on canopy management in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur; and the conduct of a national survey on “best practices” in nine major mango growing areas in the country.
For the success of the two initiatives, Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, director of the Crops Research Division (CRD) of DOST-PCAARRD, expressed the Council’s commitment to support ACIAR in its future R&D activities on banana and mango./PN
