THE BANANA Conference and Exhibit 2024 (BanCon 2024) was attended by banana farmers banana industry players, traders, and exporters and relevant stakeholders. It has an aim to improve the banana industry in the Philippines, held last Oct. 17 to 18 at SM Lanang SMX Convention Center.

It was facilitated and organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. Region XI Chapter (PhilExport Davao) and in collaboration with the Philippine Banana Council, Inc. (Philbana Council, Inc.). BanCon 2024 aimed not only to provide a platform for strategic intervention to address industry challenges and issues, ranging from production, technology, policy, and other concerns that must be resolved but also to deliberate on policy regulations and relevant legislative actions to support the industry’s sustainability and showcase banana products, innovations, technology programs, and other initiatives to ensure competitiveness.

Undersecretary Cheryll Marie “Ching” Caballero delivered the Agriculture Secretary’s message of support amidst the industry’s current challenges while Philbana Council, Inc. chairman Atty. Peter Paul Savillo highlighted that the banana industry is suffering from current problems such as low production and the fusarium wilt (Panama Disease) that is very difficult to control. 

Other problems include financing and informing protocols on chemical usage in Japan and South Korean markets. The conference also highlighted the bigger market potential of Banana as Philippine export trade contracts with different countries (Korea and China) are now in place.

#Bananasummit #HVCDP #Banana