Agri chief: P50M from President's Social Fund for Mindanao's banana growers

Post-harvest packing facilities for small banana growers and exporters will be built in Mindanao with P50 million drawn from the President’s Social Fund (PSF), according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.   These facilities, Alcala said, will enable Mindanao’s banana industry to comply with international sanitary standards.   He said two barangays in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte have been identified for the construction of two banana packing centers costing P3.1 million pesos each.   Alcala identified the barangays as Kinnamon and Casig-an. The Mindanao Banana farmers and exporters Association will partner with the Agriculture department on the post-harvest facilities project.   The Davao region produced 3.8 million metric tons of bananas in 2010, making it the country’s top banana region. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/ELR, GMA News