BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A.

RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

PHILIPPINE BANANA PRODUCTION & MARKETING

A trust to build the Native Philippine Banana Industry Prepared by: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist & Agricultural Consultant Year 2004
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Title 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3-5 Ideal Conditions for Banana Growing 5 Soil Requirement 5 Climate Requirement 5 Land Preparation and Planting 5 Preparation of Planting Materials 6 Planting Distance and Gross Estimated Income 7 Planting Procedure 8 Fertilization 8 Banana Nutrient Content 8 Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Banana 9 General Fertilizer Rate Recommendation 9 Time of Fertilization 9-10 Pruning 10 Thinning 10 Weeding and Cultivation 10 Flower and Fruit Management 11 Harvesting 11-12 Harvesting Procedure 12 Post Harvest Handling 12-13 Storage 13 Pest and their Control 13-14 Diseases and their Control 14-16 Integrated Pest Management 17

Banana Off Types from Tissue Culture 18 A Farmers Practice Organic Banana Growing 18 Acknowledgement 19
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

INTRODUCTION Banana is a tropical plant growing in all regions of the Philippine. The soil and climate of the country is suitable for its commercial production. It is considered as table fruit of the Philippines, since some varieties are eaten as fresh fruit while others are cooked and processed into chips, powder, souse and others preparations. It is an annual crop that bears any time of the year, as it is non-seasonal. A very good source of income as inter crop with fruit trees. Banana is a good source of regular weekly or monthly income for the farmers family. There are 5.9million farm households depending on banana as their source of income. Banana is still the leading fruit crop in terms of area, volume and value of production. The national average yield is 9.4 tons per hectare while corporate plantation produce 40 tons per hectare. It is a widely grown fruit in the country, planted as a component of farming system or as a main crop in large plantations in Mindanao. It is an important source of income for small farmers who constitute 80% of the banana growers. Varieties and cultivars Of the 80- distinct Philippine banana cultivars, Lakatan, Latundan, Bungulan and Saba/Cardaba are popularly grown for local market. Cavendish is produced for the fresh fruit export market: Seorita and Lacatan are gaining acceptance in major importing countries; Saba/Cardaba is the chief source of banana chips and catsup. There are about 200 variety and strain maintained by the BPI Genebank. Among the commercially promising varieties indigenous to the Philippines are Lakatan, Latundan, Saba Cardaba, Paa, Bungulan, Amas or Seorita and Morado. Other varieties resistant to BBTV are Dalaga, Radja, Pelilia, Katsila, Abuhon, Turangkog and Dalian. Banana hybrids resistant to SIGATOKA are FHIA 1, 2 and 3. Banana market Uses of banana are multiple such as fresh o r processed like chips, catsup, wine, vinegar, flour, puree, and other cooked food and feed preparations. About 66% of production is consumed locally (16.5% for processing; 45.5% as table bananas; and 4%as animal feeds and 34% is exported. Filipino per capita consumption is 22 kilos per year. We can increase that with more production and priced at the purchasing power of ordinary bread earners. The pseudostem is made into handicraft items, cloths and with the saba variety as animal feeds. Peelings of Saba are used as substrate for biogas production; sheets of paper and paperboard; banana fibers are manufactured as
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

rope (abaca variety), sacks and mat. Dried banana blossoms are used in a variety of Chinese and Filipino dishes. Foreign markets, export earnings from fresh and processed banana averaged US$244.13 million at 1.14 million tons of fresh banana and 19,094 tons

of chips exported in 1997 to Japan, Hong Kong, and Middle East countries are the major importers. Under the General Agreement of Tariff and Trade (GATT), the banana industry can take the advantage of lower tariff in the export market. The Philippines ranks fifth in the international banana trade. The Philippines is the only supplier of banana chips in the worlds, accounting to95% of the countrys annual export receipts of processed bananas over the past 5 years. Banana chips are exported to 32 countries with the USA and European Economic Community (EEC) as the major importers. In Barangay Baluan, General Santos City we have a Banana chips plant with 40 tons a day capacity, and most of the time it does not operate because of lack of saba/cardaba banana to process. Another plant at Polomolok, South Cotabato with 50 tons daily capacity is operating only 30% of its capacity. The domestic markets of fresh banana; is dominated by middlemen and traders, while the export market; is handled mostly by multinational Corporations. In small farms, banana are sold on a finger count basis while in commercial plantations, they are sold by weight. Some of the problems in the banana industry include: 1. Wide spread occurrence of diseases, particularly bunchy-top and mosaic. 2. Poor or lack of transport system, post harvest facilities, market information, as well as competition from other countries. 3. Unreliability of quality raw materials supply experienced by the banana chip industry. This is addre3ssed by the Mindanao fruit Industry Development council with the Saba/Cardaba growers. 4. High and still increasing production cost. Price trend: 1. Local prices fluctuate considering the perishable and supply of the fruit. 2. Lakatan fruits command better selling price than Latundan and Bungulan. 3. Farm gate price of Saba/Cardaba ranging from P3.50 to P4.00 while market delivered price is P4.50 to P5.00 per kilo. Bungulan and Latundan is P8 P10 and Lacatan is P10 P12. Undersize may be lower by P2 / kilo. Market Assistance is inadequate including financing program for banana at the farm and market levels. Hopefully with government and NGOs, farmer growers are starting to get support services. Technical
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

support is now being made available as the Banana Industry is given priority by NGOs and LGUs. Experts on various disciplines are drawn from both the government and private sectors. IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR BANANA GROWING SOIL REQUIREMENT 1. Deep, friable, rich in organic matter with complete nutrient and mineral elements. 2. Have adequate moisture year round and well drained. 3. Soil texture may be 40% clay, 75% silt or 85 % loam. 4. Soil pH ranges from 6 to 7 while 6.5 would be ideal. 5. Topography: Flat to rolling lands up to 45 degrees gradient. CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT 1. It needs tropical climate, plenty of sunlight to fully fruit. Shaded areas

like under the coconut; may be tolerated by some varieties, but open fields, with abundant sunlight is required for higher productivity. 2. Temperature range of 22 to 31 degrees centigrade. 3. Elevation: from sea level to 1,000 meters above. 4. Air movement should be free to reduce pest and disease harboring in the plantation, but sensitive to strong winds. LAND PREPARATION and PLANTING After determining the site for banana planting, prepare the planting site. Banana roots are long but soft and tender. They will need soft, friable and easy to work on for nutrient root absorption and stable anchorage so plant does not fall down. 1. Clear the area of trees, shrubs and weeds. Remove all stumps and rocks or any material that will hinder plant growth or field operations. 2. If possible deep plow and break subsoil if there is a hard pan. Then harrow or level and grade the surface. 3. For flat lands, dig drainage canals every two rows. 4. Lay out the rows and stake the hills: 2.0 x 2.5 meters or 3 x 3 meters for small varieties (amas, lakatan and latundan) and 4.0 x 5.0 meters for big varieties (saba and cardaba). 5. Dig one cubic feet or deeper (50 diameter x 30 cm deep) at the planting site, and place 1 kilo organic and 100 grams complete fertilizer at the bottom then cover with 4 to 6 inches of fertile top soil. Sterilize holes by burning husk or rice hull in hole. 6. Planting materials: Corms, Sucker, Tissue culture and Bull-head.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

PREPARATION OF PLANTING MATERIALS Suckers (Sword or maiden leaf) 1. Suckers must be 11 to 20 cm in diameter and weigh 2.3 to 2.7 kilos. Remove the leaves, except the two youngest. 2. Cut back 10 cm above the rhizomes for maiden leaf suckers. Corms 1. Obtain corms from healthy large suckers that have not fruited yet, 2. Use corms with cut tops 10 to 15 cm in diameter , with a minimum of one good bud. 3. Deep the corm in a solution containing fungicide (Lime sulfur) and insecticide plus spreader sticker preferably Aloe Vera extract. 4. After treating 60 corms, add 1/3 of the chemical mixture and level the solution back to 20liter water. 5. Use hand gloves and mask when dipping corms. 6. Deep the corms for 5 to 10 minutes and air-dry under the shade. Use of Eyebuds as Planting Materials The use of corms and suckers as planting materials is simple and with high germination and survival. However, these materials are bulky and costly in terms of labor and transport. Dividing the corm into seedpieces with two eyebuds each increases the number of planting materials. Dividing further the seedpieces into one eyebud each makes them equally appropriate planting materials. The eyebuds have germination and survival rate similar to those of the seedpieces and have advantage of being less bulky, thereby reducing hauling and freight costs.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA

Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

PLANTING DISTANCE AND GROSS ESTIMATED INCOME Plantin g Distanc e in meters No. of Hills per Hectar e Averag e Weight per Bunch Ex Far m Gate Pric e Gross Sales Amount Cost of Productio n P15 / bunch Gross Profit or Net Income Banana Varietie s 2.0 x 3.0 1,666 8 Kg P 5 P 66,640 P 24,990 P 41,650 Amas Seorita 2.5 x 3.0 1,333 10 Kg P 8 P 106,640 P 19,995 P 86,645 Seorita Latunda n

3.0 x 3.0 1,111 10 Kg P 8 P 88,880 P 16,665 P 72,215 Latunda n Lacatan 3.0 x 4.0 833 12 Kg P 8 P 79,968 P 12,990 P 66,978 Latunda n Lacatan 3.5 x 4.0 714 12 Kg P 8 P 68.544 P 10,710 P 57,834 Lacatan Bungula n 3.0 x 5.0 666 12 Kg P 8 P 63,936 P 9,990 P 53,946 Latunda n Lacatan 3.0 x 6.0 555 15 Kg P 8 P 66,600 P 8,325 P 58,275 Latunda n Bungula n 4.0 x 4.0 625 15 Kg P 8 P 70,000 P 9,375 P 65,625 Lacatan Bungula n 4.0 x 4.0 625 20 Kg P 4 P 50,000 P 9,375 P 40,625 Saba Cardaba 4.0 x 5.0 500 20 Kg P 4 P 40,000 P 7,500 P

32,500 Saba Cardaba 5.0 x 5.0 400 20 Kg P 4 P 32,000 P 6,000 P 26,000 Saba Cardaba 5.0 x 5.0 400 20 Kg P 8 P 64,000 P 6,000 P 58,000 Bungula n Lacatan
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

Recommended distance: Saba and Cardaba 5 x 5 meters 400 per ha. Bungulan 4 x 4 meters 625 per ha. Latundan and Lacatan 3 x 3 meters 1,111 per ha. Amas and Seorita 2 x 3 meters 1,333 per ha. PLANTING PROCEDURE 1. Pour water in the hole to almost full. 2. Set the planting material. Plant either the whole corm or cut the corm into pieces with each piece/bit having at least one viable bud. 3. Plant suckers or corms erect in the hole to about 30 cm deep. 4. Cover with topsoil and press on all sides to firm up. 5. Replant the ungerminated plant materials 3-4 weeks after planting. FERTILIZATION Have the soil analyzed to determine nutrient availability and deficiency. Leaf analysis would be a better check. Natural organic fertilizers and banana left to nature have been producing, but fertilizing them with combination of organic and chemical fertilizers will increase their yield. BANANA NUTRIENT CONTENT NUTRIENT Quantity in plants (kilos / ha.) Quantity removed by fruits. Quantity remaining in plants. Proportion of fruit removal. N 338 189 199 49% P 52 29 23 56% K 1,438 778 660 54% Ca 227 101 126 45%

Mg 125 49 76 39% Mn 12.50 0.50 12 4% Zn 4.70 0.50 4.20 12% Banana nutrient removal: A 20 kilos bunch removes 44 grams of Nitrogen (N), 5 grams Phosphorous (P) and 143.47 grams Potassium (K).
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS IN BANANA Nitrogen All leaves become pale green, and petioles, midribs and leaf sheaths show a reddish-pink color, leaf inter-node distance is reduced, resulting in a choked appearance. Phosphorous Older leaves develop serrated marginal chlorosis and the petiole breaks easily. Potassium Older leaves develop a yellow-orange chlorosis and brown scorching along the leaf margin (Similar to Sigatoka). Calcium The leaf blade (lamina) of the new leaves is deformed and almost absent (spike leaf symptom), interveinal chlorosis in the leaf margin. Magnesium Leaf symptoms include yellowing in the mid-blade and leaf margin remain green, and separation of leaf sheaths from the pseudostem. Boron Leaf curling, deformation and white streaks along the veins of the lamina. Zinc Leaves become thin and narrow with yellow to white stripes along the veins; small twisted fingers. General fertilizer rate recommendation per hectare per year: Chemical fertilizer application: Per Hill Per Hectare Nitrogen (N) 0.30 0.50 k 300 to 500 kilos Phosphorous (P) 0.025 - 0.05 k 25 to 50 kilos Potassium (K2O) 0.35 0.60 k 350 to 600 kilos Trace minerals 0.005 0.01 k 5 to 10 kilos Organic fertilizer 2.00 - 5.00 k 2 to 5 tons TIME OF FERTILIZATION 1. Basal application, before planting of organic and chemical fertilizer. 2. Every tree months for chemical fertilizer.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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3. Once or twice a year for organic fertilizer. Work in the fertilizer into the soil by cultivating or forking around the hills sof banana 30 to 50 centimeters from the base of the corm. a) Fertilize the plant 0.25 kg Urea (46-0-0) plus 0.25 kg Muriate of Potash (0-0-60) every 3 months in each mat to insure proper growth of banana plants (or based on leaf or soil analysis). b) Apply fertilizer 30 to 60 c from the pseudostem in a ring or band application. Then cover fertilizer with soil. c) On slopes, fertilizer must be forked in on the upper side of the plant.

PRUNING The removal of old leaves and cutting off of diseased portion is a continuing pruning activity as part of sanitation and disease spread prevention. Remove dry leaf sheathes and leaves using a pruning knife attached to a long pole. Stripping of infected and removal of nonfunctional leaves. This reduces inoculum source of leaf diseases like Sigatoka. Maintain 10 to 12 leaves before or during flowering. Pseudostem and Mat Sanitation. Remove dead and dried leaf sheathes. Debell bunches immediately after false hand appearance. THINING The removal of unwanted suckers by digging, rouging and cutting/pruning at the ground level or scooping out the growing point with a special roughing knife that scoops out the growing point. Treat the growing point with petroleum to control growth. Maintain only 1 to 2 suckers per mother plant. Suckers less than 1 meter high should be removed, unless you intend to use them as planting material. WEEDING and CULTIVATION Manual or mechanical weeding and cultivation are preferred and recommended practice. This will help aerate and loosen the soil and remove noxious weeds. It will also enhance biological activity. The use of chemical herbicide is being resorted to by big corporate plantations because of limited labor supply and farm machinery. These chemicals affect the biological life of the soil as they do not only kill weeds but also the beneficial fungi and bacteria living in the soil. Small landowners with less than 10 hectares could easily get enough labor force to do manual weeding and cultivation.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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FLOWER AND FRUIT MANAGEMENT Propping: When banana hills are limited to 2 to 3 suckers with the mother plant and other suckers are removed, its anchorage is weaken, and the plant when it fruits is too heavy and tends to fall down. Propping banana stems with poles or tying them up to cables; are practiced by big banana plantations. Planting bamboo groves as pole supply is recommended along the edges of banana farms. Bunch spraying: Periodic spraying of bunches to protect them against pests and diseases is done for susceptible varieties like Lacatan and Cavaendish varieties. Cardava and Bungulan appear to by more tolerant to pest and diseases. Deflowering: This is the removal of the heart immediately at the emergence of the last set of fingers (hands) will help prevent infection and food nutrients will be concentrated to the development of the fruits. Debudding / Debelling: The removal of unneeded buds would also help channel all food nutrients to the fruit bunch. Bagging: Many commercial varieties are bagged to prevent the insect pests from laying eggs on them. It also keeps them clean and attractive for the market. Ribboning, tagging or date marking: From the removal of flower after the last fingers emerge will commence the period and determine the

date of full maturity and harvest based on the variety, usually 100 to 120 days. HARVESTING Maturity indices: 1. The plant has six or less functional leaves. 2. Fruits are full, plump, round and light green. 3. Angles in the fingers are rounded. 4. Leaves turn yellow. Hanging days of bunch: VARIETY WEEKS FROM FLOWER EMERGENCE DAYS FROM FALSE HAND APPEARANCE LATUNDAN 10 12 weeks or 80 days Harvest not earlier than 70 hanging days. LAKATAN 12 13 weeks or 90 days Harvest not earlier than 80 hanging days. SABA / CARDABA 16 18 weeks or 120 days Harvest not earlier than 112 hanging days.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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Angularity of individual fingers: Observe the curve angle and distancing of the fingers from one another. Fruit diameter: Observe the enlargement of the fruit diameter. As it matures, it becomes full and bigger. Pulp color: Mature fruits turn pale yellow pulp in color. Locule formation: Spots and fungal development on the skin of maturing fruits appear as it becomes less acidic and tart. HARVESTING PROCEDURE Remove the leaves and props Make a cut at he middle of the pseudostem and pull the bunch slowly to the shoulder of the backer/carrier. Cut the peduncle and spray the butt end with Alum (Aluminum sulfate) to prevent staining of the fruits. Cut the top of the pseudostem leaving 2 to 3 meters stalk. The backer carries the bunch to the packing area. Spray the bunch with water to remove field heat. Small Bunches: 1. Cut the trunk slowly and partially about 1/3 from the top to insure the slow toppling of the bunch. 2. Use knife or bolo, sickle or hatchet to do the cutting. 3. Hold the peduncle leaving about 30 cm of the stalk for easy handling. Big Bunches: 1. A bamboo pole is used to support the upper portion of the bunch.

2. The harvester moves the base of the pole slowly until the bunch touches the shoulder pad. 3. The harvester cuts the stem of the bunch 46 cm above the fruit to provide a handle for the carrier. 4. Do not cut the pseudostem close to the ground after harvest. Leave at least 1 to 1.5 meters of the pseudostem, as it will still help in feeding the following suckers. POST HARVEST HANDLING 1. De-handing with a knife or special de-handing knife. a) Clean/wash the newly harvested fruits. b) Air-dry after washing. c) Pack the fruits.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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2. Sorting and grading: Size (length of fingers) requirement of the different varieties of bananas . VARIETY LARGE (cm) MEDIUM (cm) SMALL (cm) Latundan 13 3 13 6 8 Saba/Cardaba 12 10 12 8 10 Lakatan 15 10 15 10 3. Packaging: Several available packaging materials: a) Woven large bamboo or rattan baskets lined with dried banana leaves or newspaper. b) Wooden crates of 12 to 15 kg capacity. c) Cartoon boxes with 12 kg capacity. d) Plastic crates with 10 to 20 kg caacity. STORAGE Packed fruits are either kept in cold storage or ripening rooms. Optimum storage temperature for some banana variety: CULTIVARS OPTIMUM TEMPERATURE *C STORAGE PERIOD (DAYS) Saba/Cardaba 10 35 Bungulan 12 25 30 Latundan 13 21 28 Lacatan 13 28 PESTS and their CONTROL Common Pests: 1. Fruit scarring beetles 2. Banana thrips 3. Mealy Bugs 4. Banana aphids 5. Corm weevil 1. Scarring Beetle (damage the fruits).
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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Bag the fruit when the last hands emerge. Spray the bunch with Decis 2.5 EC at 2 tbsp / 19 litters of water in 2-3 cycles before bagging.

2. Aphids (carrier of Bunchy Top and Bract Mosaic Virus) Spray the whole infected plants before and after eradication using Sumithion 30 EC at 2 tbsp / 18 litters of water. Burn the mat area. 3. Corm Weevil (damage the corms). Broadcast Primicid 10G at 15 grams per mat around the corm twice a year at 5-6 month interval. Use organic fertilizer with repellant crop residue. 4. Mealy Bug (carrier of Banana Streak Virus). Spray the pseudostem at 4 cycles per year at monthly interval using Sumithion 50 EC or Basudin 60 EC at 3-4 tbsp / 19 litter of water. DISEASES and their CONTROL Common Diseases: 1. Panama disease or Fusarium wilt 2. Moco or bacterial wilt 3. Sigatoka 4. Black leaf streak (BLS) 5. Banana bunchy top (BBT) 6. Banana bract mosaic (BBM) 7. Bugtok or Tibagnol Control Measures 1. Field and mat sanitation, leaf-pruning for light penetration and reduction of dampness. 2. Chemical treatment (fungicide, insecticide and nematicides). 3. Eradicate / remove infected plants. 1. Sigatoka / BLS Remove diseased leaves from infected plants to reduce inoculums.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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Sanitation drain excess water to avoid water logging which produces high humidity. Proper nutrition Provide the right quantity of and ratio of nutrients specially Nitrogen Potassium ratio, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium, manganese, Zinc and trace mineral elements. Spray contact and systemic fungicide on the candle leaf and expanded leaves at 10-15 days interval. 2. Moko Disease (Bacterial Wilt) Early detection and immediate eradication. Disinfect tools and implements with 10% formaldehyde solution. Spray infected plants with formaldehyde, before, during and after eradication including the 6 meters radius surrounding from the infected plant. Chop the debris into small pieces. Avoid re-growth and facilitate drying. Stock corm or stump with bamboo sticks soaked in Round-up or 2-4-D amine for 2 days. Cover chopped infected plants with rice hull and burned for 2 days. Replanting could be done 3-4 months after eradication. 3. Fusarium Wilt Disease Quarantine Clean planting materials Variety improvement (Hybrids) or use resistant strain. Cultural Management (plowing, nutrition, proper spacing, liming to

raise pH to 7.0). Soil type (pH is neutral with high Organic Matter OM). Cross Protection (Immunization) of plants Crop rotation Soil sterilization 4. Bunchy Top and Mosaic Virus Early disease detection Insecticide application of infested plants including 5 meters radius surroundings. Destroy and eliminate aphids and ants that carry the virus. Rogue infected plants, scrape or chop the bud eyes of the corm to prevent re-growth. Burn the mat area. Maintain clean culture by weeding and shallow cultivation.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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Bunchy top and mosaic are two important virus diseases affecting banana and abaca in the Philippines. Early detection of this virus help in controlling and preventing disease outbreak. Researchers of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) at the University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB) developed diagnostic kits for banana bunchy top virus and banana bract mosaic virus by using antibody-producing monoclones. This monoclonal antibody technology facilitates the sensitive process of certifying plantlets as disease free. This is different from the conventional method which are more laborious, less sensitive, and takes longer time for visible detection of symptoms. The conventional method is not ideal for large number of planting materials used in large-scale production. 5. Bugtok Disease in Cardaba Periodic stem sanitation, removal of dried leaves and sucker control. Bagging of female flower at bending stage. Early removal of male bud. 6. Dry Rot Disease in Cardaba Based on observation of malady are high during summer when temperature is 35 degrees centigrade and above the leaf spot diseases like Cordana and Black cross are prevalent. The upper portion of the peduncle is exposed to sunlight, bleaches and starts to rot which results to reduced finger size and eventually in severe cases. Rotting of bunch occur. In India, two fungi were isolated and their pathologicity was confirmed, namely: Colletotrichum gloesporioides and Botryodiplodia theobromae. The disease could be prevented by spraying the peduncle and bunch with 0.1% Carbendazim (Delsene) immediately after shooting and covering the peduncle with leaves (flag leaf) to protect from heat. 7. Post Harvest Diseases Anthracnose * Cigar End Rot * Sunburn Fungal ang bacterial rot can be prevented by washing fresh harvested fruits with fungicide and bacteriocide. Sunburns may be avoided by keeping fruits shaded away from sunlight.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA

Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR BANANA 1. Reducing pest numbers in the soil before planting. Use of virgin soil or rested and rejuvenated soil after a year of following. Crop rotation a) Peanut and corn showed to be an alternate host for R. similis (Price, 1994). Growing legumes will help rejuvenate soil life. b) Sorghum is also identified as a strong host for R. similis (Stanton 1998). c) Sugarcane and guinea grass were excellent in controlling nematode (Stanton, 1998) Use of nematicide: Biocontrol agents like Trichoderma. Soil sterilization: flooding, cultivation and exposure to sunlight. Growing bananas in low rainfall areas. 2. Reducing pest numbers in planting material befor planting. Paring slicing off outer layer of the rhizome. Hot water treatment treat in hot water at 52 degrees centigrade for 20 minutes (Hauser, 1998) Planting Resistant Varieties. Clean planting materials. 3. Promoting root health and vigor in the plantation to counteract pest damage. Soil preparation. Use the tissue culture plantiets. Proper nutrition (Ratio of Potassium: Calcium + Magmesium) Application of organic fert6ilizer chicken manure reduces nematodes population. Organic mulching Rice Hull with chicken dung. 4. Reducing the chances of pathogens in entering the rhizomes or roots and stem (Corm and Stem Weevil).
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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Trapping and sanitation Plant residue removal like old pseudostems Pseudostem injection of insecticide BANANA OFF TYPES FROM TISSUE CULTURE Dwarfism Abnormal leaf arrangement (chocking) Deformed lamina Long peduncle Runt bunch Leaf distortion Planting materials from tissue culture may be a faster way of securing planting materials. However, if there are available good quality suckers in the community, it is advisable for small farms to start their plantation with them. A FARMERS PRACTICE ORGANIC BANANA GROWING Carlos Impang, a Latundan Banana farmer at Talaytay, Publacion Malungon,

Sarangani Provice has this to share. His farm is 3 hectares planted to Latundan Banana at a distance of 3 x 6 meters. He practices clean culture, with the weeds and banana leaves left to decompose in between hills. He uses organic mulch and organic waste as his fertilizer. He does not spray chemicals or bagging of bunches as done with Lacatan and Cavendish banana growing. He prunes off diseased leaves and brack to prevent spread of fungal diseases. It takes 10 t0 12 months from planting to flowering. Fruit emergence takes 14 to 16 days, and 2.5 months from flower emergence to fruit maturity and harvest. He maintains 2 to 3 suckers per hill at different stages of growth. Excess suckers are removed to concentrate nutrient to fruit development. Provide good drainage and aeration to keep the plants dry with maximum sunlight exposure. Soil moisture is maintained with the mulching. He does not plow to avoid damaging roots that will serve as entry point of diseases. The average production is 10 to 35 kilos per bunch. He markets at the local Public Market of Malungon at P10.00 per kilo whole sale to retailers. He has a weekly harvest of 100 to 130 kilos from hectare. He is expanding his area to 6 hectares. He observed that his yield increases during the rainy season and drops during summer months.
BANANA PRODUCTION AND MARKETING By: REX A. RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant

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Replant after 3 to 5 years with 1 year rest or planted to legume crops. It is a good practice to rest the land for one year and allow the growth of natural vegetation and microorganisms that help decompose and turn plant residue and convert them to organic fertilizer and readily available plant nutrients.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We recognize the joint effort of the government and private sectors in pushing the development of the Banana Industry. On the government participation we acknowledge the Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA_ATI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST_PCARRD), TESDA, Provincial, Municipal and Barangay government units, OPAG, OMAG of South Cotabato and Sarangani Province. The private sectors fully supporting the Banana Industry Development are USAID GEM, MINFRUIT, SAFFIA, GENSAFCO, AFCs and Fruit Associations and Cooperatives. Mr. Celso Enriquez of GEM and Mr. Benjamin Roy of MINFRUIT are the main players spearheading the development of the Native Philippine Banana Industry in the Island of Mindanao. Mr. Ed Cejar, Chairman of SAFFIA and Governor Miguel Dominguez with Board Lasad Abdon likewise are spearheading the development of banana industry in Sarangani Province. Mr. Fred Dumasis and Mayor George Yabes are also promoting commercial banana production in the town of Maitum, Sarangani Province. Mr. Jonathan Duhaylungsod of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Capitol, Alabel Sarangani Province and staff who have been conducting Fruit Production Seminars including Banana Production in

several towns of Sarangani Province. For more information, contact: REX A RIVERA Agronomist, Agricultural Consultant 30 Lapu Lapu St. Gen. Santos City Cell No. 0905-242-2691 Telex. No. 083-301-0117 Email: rarivera8@yahoo.com