Local banana firms bullish on rice farming

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According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who met with members of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) in Davao City, top officials of various banana companies expressed interest in the proposal to establish corporate rice farms in leased lands.

These lands were among those abandoned due to the fungal disease Fusarium Wilt, better known as Panama Disease, which infects the roots, attacks the vascular system and eventually kills the plant. Once a plot is infected, bananas can no longer be cultivated there. The disease has destroyed the livelihood of many of Filipino farmers growing the cavendish banana variety.

In response, the Department of Agriculture (DA) suggested that these leased lands be planted to either rice or sorghum, which companies and corporations were required to establish corporate rice farms through a presidential decree,” he added.

Pinol said Dole Philippines executive Oscar Garcia also expressed interest in knowing spe-