Economic Issue - The Unease Threats of Panama Disease

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=87205

Philippines: Davao's banana growers alarmed by Panama disease

 

Stakeholders of the banana industry in Davao Region were alarmed over the onset of the dreaded Panama Disease, which has already affected several banana plantations. "It is an industry killer and for Mindanao, an economy killer," Alex Valoria, president of the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said of the destructive fungal plant disease. The fungus, which already attacked several plantations across the region, has been identified as the recent strain Tropical Race 4. Presently, it has no cure and cannot be controlled by fungicide. According to Stephen Antig, PBGEA executive-director, the disease was spotted in Calinan in Davao City about three years ago. It has spread to banana plantations in Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

"It is a very virulent disease and is a very fast-killer." Valoria said.
The fungus is carried by humans, dogs, cats, pigs, car tires. Rainwater can also carry the fungus thus, it can spread easily from upland farms to lowland plantations. Infected banana plants wilt and die days after it is stricken rendering plantations unproductive. Valoria explained that infected banana plantations have to remain vacant for about five years before it can be planted again hence, it is described as an industry killer. Panama disease was responsible for single-handedly destroying the Malaysian banana industry three years after it was spotted in a Malaysian banana plantation. He said that banana growers are already approaching the local government of Santo Tomas for help after their banana plantations were infected.

Antig said that they are currently undertaking an inventory to determine the impact of the disease and the results can be determined by the year-end. He estimates a significant impact brought about by the infestation particularly to small growers. In 2010, about 200 million boxes of bananas were exported. Total export earnings for Cavendish last year amounted to $720 million. In Mindanao, there are about 245,000 hectares planted to bananas with 79,300 hectares devoted to export-quality Cavendish varieties. This industry could be threatened by a disease, whose cure is still being researched by scientists from all over the world.

REACTION:

Affected areas were seeking for help on what to do and how to stop it? These queries are being asked by affected people in different areas. Now, my question is, how will the government help the people in the locality who are affected by this epidemic, as well as the country itself?

This economic matter is very staid because of uncontrolled spread of fusarium wilt or commonly known as panama disease in banana that becomes a massive problem and threat to our nation. This badly behaved problem is currently destructing banana industries in the Philippines and all over the world. Through this wide range threat, people were terrified of losing their jobs and businesses. Even the government is petrified in this economic issue, since it will affect the economy as whole because the large income in our country came from exporting bananas globally.

In linking to this, my town Kapalong is currently facing this kind of problem in banana. Almost 20% out of the total number of banana farms in Kapalong were affected by this disease. There are some farms that were abandoned, since the widespread cannot be controlled anymore. Thus, our municipality appeals for help on how this problem will be solved. Unfortunately, the department of agriculture desolately informs that there is no cure in this disease and they are still working for the solution, including the scientists all over the world. They just compromise to quarantine or to isolate the remaining banana farms that are still productive. Also, worker to workers should take foot wash disinfections as well as the materials inside the quarantine to avoid any spread of disease in the isolated areas. However, this alternative choice is stagnantly not enough because the productions of banana are still declining. Although it could help to lessen the disease, but the threats are still around and ready to attack anytime.

Economic Issue - Rice Crisis

Davao Norte exec braces for rice crisis

by JMD Abangan

TAGUM CITY (3 April) -- Like other local chief executives, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario wanted his province to "firmly brace for the looming rice crises" as he allocated P2 million to assist rice farmers.

The funding taken from this year's budget is expected to benefit 3,635 farmers who are cultivating a total of 18,695 hectares of rice field.

In his 1st State of the Province Address (SOPA), del Rosario bid to maintain enough food llevel in Davao del Norte with rice sufficiency estimated at 77 percent along with 300 hectare-vegetable industry "which can produce 18,000 metric tons" based on 2007 records.

The P2 million funding for rice farmers is under the Economic Development and Environment Protection and Rehabilitation thrust coined in an acronym RDR WHEELS.

A mythical vehicle to development, RDR WHEELS is del Rosario's agenda which stands for Road and Infrastructure Development; Development of Cooperatives; Reforms in Governance and Peace and Order; Water and Electricity; Health, Sanitation and Social Services; Education, Culture, Sports and Human Development; Economic Development and Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation; Livelihood Skills and Development; and Spiritual and Moral Recovery.

Economic Development gets the second largest share at 20 percent of the budget pie of the province.

Del Rosario said the share would be spent for improved agricultural productivity "to match the growth of the industry and services sectors."

"We mobilized our budget to provide combined modern strategies to help our farmers in farm inputs and implements, technical skills interventions, research and extension and product diversifications to increase their share of income," del Rosario said.

But Gerry Rivera, chair of the Provincial Farmers' Action Council said the P2 million is quite a small amount if equally shared by more than 3,000 rice farmers especially when spent on production.

"Sa seedlings lang daan, kulang ra na," he said.

Davao del Norte may not be a major rice producer but it is a chief producer of bananas for export.

The banana industry however has impinged on rice production areas of the province.

According to the raw data of the Crops Division of the Department of Agriculture (DA) XI an estimated 9,000 hectares rice farms in Davao del Norte have been converted mostly into banana plantations as of 2007. (PIA) [top]

Currently, how much is the price of rice per kilo? When did this changes started? And why it continues to increase? These are the questions we are trying to raise.

Way back a couple of years, we started to feel the effect of changes of the market price in rice in the Philippines. The continuous and non-stop increase has led to economic crises. The traders as well as the consumers were challenged on how to deal with this event. Even if the government will arrange for funds to assist rice farmers, this is not enough solution to sustain their necessities generally the inputs. Now, is the government fully aware of such issue considering that in every increase of price of majority of the Filipino consumers are affected?

This economics issue is definitely alarming especially to the marginalize people of the country particularly my town, Kapalong. Kapalong is a first class municipality in the province of Davao del Norte of which 90% of its local income is derived from agriculture. At present, rice production in the locality is decreasing because most of the farmers had switch to banana export production. In effect the supply of rice is no longer enough for the consumption of the people in the locality. Hence, this happening seems to be one of the reasons of such increase.

Accordingly, another contributory factor to such event is the continuous increase of inputs such as seedlings, insecticides, fertilizers and labors. The higher the inputs of production, the higher the price of a product, this is actually the real scenario of the economy. Relatively, the government on the other hand, must do something to equalize the economy, that is, if the price of the commodity increases the payment of wages must also increase so that the people will not be affected economically. 

Just got started !

I just make this blog for my economic subject. Through this, I can now communicate with my instructor Mr. James Daigdigan. Also, to utter class reference..