Tags: Agribusiness
By Anna Valmero
DAVAO CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR – Banana growers and exporters in Davao are considering the use of biological agents and development of a resistant variety to control the spread of Fusarium wilt or referred to as the Panama disease.
As early as September, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) reported that the Panama disease has wiped out plantations in Bukidnon and infected some farms in Davao.
Ultimately, the plant disease threatens to wipe out the country’s banana industry if left unresolved.
“We acknowledge the urgency of the issue,” said Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Mario Montejo, adding that the agency would release funds proposals of the local banana growers on solving the issue.
First among the proposed projects is the use of biological control agents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense.Initial reports point out that the fungus is found on the soil attacks the vascular system of bananas until they wilt and eventually die.
The biological control agents would focus on inhibiting the growth of the fungus on the soil and thus halting its attack on bananas.
Scientists are eyeing the use of Trichoderma sp., vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) and plant- growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).
In connection to this, DoST researchers will study the physical and chemical characteristics of soils in Davao farms to determine why some soils seem to suppress the disease.
Another parallel solution to the problem is the development of resistant local varieties while maintaining the quality of Cavendish bananas, Montejo said.
The DoST hopes to work with the Taiwanese government to obtain stock germplasm for this effort, the official added. DoST has offered a seat for Taiwan officials to sit as international board member in the recently launched Philippine Genomics Center, which in turn would focus on biotechnology, forensics and health.
The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region meanwhile organized Task Force Fusarium to push local quarantine ordinances and promote the disease management protocol.
Several towns have already adopted policies to restrict the movement of planting material in infected areas. Together with PBGEA, the towns are promoting the disease management protocol through development and distribution of information materials, and through protocol briefings.
Stakeholders will develop a unified action plan to incorporate all the individual actions and to fine tune the proposal developed by the SMARRDEC member-agencies.
Funding and coordinating the “S&T Intervention in Managing the Fusarium Wilt in Davao” is DoST’s sub-agency Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
Related Stories:
Davao entrepreneur shows ingenuity with banana and ‘tablea’ products
Agriculture sector grows to P700B in first half of 2011
Local banana farmers must innovate and go organic, says expert
Banana farmers warned about ‘Panama disease’
Advertising Agribusiness Agriculture Airline Industry Aquaculture Automobiles Banking Car Accessories consumer elec Consumer Electronics Consumer Goods and Concerns Cooperatives Cottage Industries Death Entrepreneurship Filipinos Abroad Food Establishments Groceries and Shopping Centers Handicraft Handicrafts hardware Hardware Solutions Horticulture Internet Livelihood Programs Malls Mass Media and Communications Mobile Phone Industry OFWs Outsourcing Real Estate Software Solutions technology Technology Industry teleco Telecommunications Tourism Transportation Vermiculture Wholesale and Retail
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
