The Philippines government has announced plans to develop Panama disease-free seedlings over the next four years to help safeguard the country’s banana industry.
According to report in the Manila Bulletin, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) said it was confident the government could bring the disease under control through a programme of disease-resistant seed propagation with private nurseries.
According to the report, the programme is aimed at independent farmers who operate plantations of around 10ha rather than large-scale commercial producers.
The seedlings would be provided free of charge to help prevent the spread of the disease.
The announcement comes after dire predictions late last year from Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association executive director Stephen Antig that if left unchecked the disease could wipe out the Philippines’ banana industry in just three years.
He told the Associated Press the disease had already infected 1,200ha of banana plantations in the country.
Antig added that the disease wiped out production of the then-popular Gros Michel banana variety in Central America and the Caribbean in the 1960s.
According to the Manila Bulletin, field trials will also be held in the Philippines of Taiwanese-developed Cavendish varieties resistant to the disease.
The article also reported the PCAARD was supporting a bill currently before congress to establish a Banana Research Centre.
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