Lab access
Tadeco launches lab services for banana farmers, exporters
IN a bid to help improve the banana industry in Davao Region, the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (Tadeco), a subsidiary of the Aflo Group of Companies, launched its AgroTechnology Outreach Program yesterday.
Alexander N. Valoria, Anflo president and chief executive officer, said during the launching of the program that the program makes world class laboratory services that are critical for agricultural operations available to banana farmers.
"It is the culmination of the hard work of tadeco’s research team led by Dr. Benny M. Corcolon, the company’s investment of over P100 million, and even a grant from the Dutch government through their Promo Banana Project," Valoria said.
There are two sites for the program -- the receiving area in Magsaysay, Carmen, Davao del Norte and the laboratory at Tadeco in Panabo City.
"To be able to check on soil nutrient status, diagnosis of diseases through conventional and molecular approaches... quickly and here in Davao del Norte will be a huge advantage for the banana industry," Valoria said.
The program offers services on entomology nematology, plant pathology, tissue culture, and chemistry laboratory.
Valoria also said through the program, they
will offer services that will help fight fusarium wilt, also known as the Panama Disease.
"We will be selling tissue cultured planting material that is fusarium wilt tolerant as well as selling trichoderma packs that we ourselves use extensively and consider integral to our program against fusarium wilt," Valoria said.
For his part, Corcolon, Tadeco vice president for research, information, and compliance division, said through the program they hope to bring their laboratory services closer to smaller banana farmers and exporters.
He said they are also open to other banana farmers and exporters who do not have a laboratory.
Corcolon said interested banana farmers and exporters may bring their samples to the receiving area.
He also said the cost of their services are much lower than other laboratories offering similar services.
Valoria said this is part of their efforts to help improve and restore the banana industry in the region.
It can be noted that despite being one of the biggest sector in the country's agriculture industry, the banana sector has been plagued with diseases, threatened by climate change, and faces stiff competition from bananas coming from Latin America. This resulted to lower exports in the past couple of years. RJL (For full story visit www.sunstar.com.ph/ davao/)