The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines is enhancing efforts to combat diseases impacting the local banana industry as part of its strategy to address a P10 billion farm trade deficit.

Agriculture Undersecretary Philip Young highlighted the need for solutions to mitigate the effects of plant diseases on this vital export sector, which has seen a decline in its global ranking. "We once ranked as the second-largest exporter, but we're now fourth due to ongoing diseases," Young explained.

The DA plans to partner with a Singapore-based company to conduct field trials on a potential treatment for banana growers using hydro-emission technology. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) will soon be signed to formalise this partnership and create a trial farm for bananas and mangoes.

Despite a slip in its ranking, the Philippines regained its position as the second-largest banana exporter in 2023, according to the FAO. Over the past two decades, the industry has suffered from Fusarium wilt, which disrupts plant health and leads to significant production losses.

The DA aims to address obstacles to agricultural exports, including market access and tariff competitiveness, while working to bridge the annual P10 billion gap between exports and imports by exploring new markets.