By Che Palicte
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11), through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), has turned over a PHP2-million financial grant to the Mampising Carp Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative to strengthen efforts against Fusarium wilt, a major threat to the region’s banana industry.
The grant, turned over on Nov. 9, will support the production of Trichoderma harzianum, a beneficial microorganism used as a biological control agent in managing Fusarium wilt.
DA-11 said the supplies will be distributed to banana-producing farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) across the Davao Region, particularly those whose farms have been affected by the disease.
According to DA-11, the initiative aims to improve disease management and rehabilitation efforts by providing farmers with access to biological control inputs that complement existing farm practices.
“The intervention is expected to help farmers mitigate the impact of Fusarium wilt while promoting healthier and more sustainable banana production systems,” it said.
DA-11 said the project will contribute to the rehabilitation of affected farms, support production recovery, and strengthen the resilience of banana-growing communities in the region.
Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease, continues to pose a significant challenge to banana production, affecting farm productivity and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of growers.
The financial assistance forms part of the DA’s ongoing efforts to support banana farmers and protect one of the region’s key agricultural industries. (PNA)
