Most produced banana in R11 is Cavendish

CAVENDISH banana remains to be the topproduced banana variety in Davao region with production reaching to 49,140 metric tons (MT), an increase of 2.27 percent (%) from the 48,050MT produced in 2015.

According to the data provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), most of the Cavendish bananas were grown in Davao del Norte, which produced 29,854MT, followed by Compostela Valley with 11,934MT. Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental were able to produce 3,630MT and 316MT of Cavendish banana, respectively.

Meanwhile, production of Banana Saba slightly decreased by 0.56 percent from 22,306MT in 2015 to 22,182MT in 2016.

Banana Saba production are mostly in Davao del Sur, producing about 6,691MT both for 2015 and 2016. Davao Oriental’s production of Banana Saba slightly decreased by 0.31% from 5,176MT in 2015 to 5,160MT in 2016. Davao del Norte has an increase of about 1.35% Banana Saba production from 4,682 metric tons in 2015 to 4,745 metric tons in 2016.

Davao Region’s production of Banana Lakatan decreased by about 0.18% from 11,669MT in 2015 to 11,648MT in

2016. Most of the production came from Davao Oriental, which produced about 4,188MT last year. Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Compostela Valley were able to produce 3,513MT, 1,594MT, 1,248MT, respectively.

In an earlier interview with Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) president Stephen Antig said the banana industry in the region is still on its recovery stages after the El Nino phenomenon and the infestation of the Panama disease.

He added they are currently developing varieties and trying out previously developed varieties that are resistant to the disease to help with better banana yield.