Bilateral talks for banana, mango exports seen to grow PHL fruit industry

Ongoing bilateral talks with the US and Australian governments present bright prospects for the local banana and mango industry, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the Agriculture Department.

 

In an e-mailed statement over the weekend, BPI Director Clarito Barron said the government has ongoing negotiations for the export of Philippine banana to US territories such as Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii.

 

“[This] will definitely lead to an increase in the country’s revenue and therefore boost our banana industry,” he said.

 

Last August 20, 2013, the country initially shipped bananas to San Diego, California. The shipment contained a total of 486 cartons (6.561 metric tons) of highland Cavendish Dole Sweet bananas sourced from Bukidnon.

 

Barron said the agency's Plant Quarantine Services (PQS) has created market opportunities through bilateral relations with importing and exporting countries and conduct of pest risk analyses. 

 

Meanwhile, the Philippine mango exports is seen to be robust after being declared as Freedom Area for Mango Pulp and Seed Weevil by the US government through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on February 8, 2013, the BPI director said.

 

Mango pulp weevil (MPW) and mango seed weevil (MSW) are pests that attack the pulp and seed of the mango fruit, respectively, rendering it inedible. 

 

This led to mango importation to Australia, with the Special Commodity of Understanding for the Importation to Australia of fresh mango fruit from the Philippines was officially signed at the Philippines Australia Agriculture Forum held in Canberra on July 9, 2013.

 

A total 4.76 metric tons (MT) mangoes from Guimaras, Samal Islands Davao del Sur – valued at $14,587 – were shipped to Melbourne and Adelaide from June 8 to July 10, 2013, consisting of six shipments.

 

"This signals the acceptance of the Australian government of the country’s mango not only sourced from the Island of Guimaras but to other areas as well, as a result of regular bilateral talks with Australian government," Barron said.  — RSJ, GMA News