The local business and government sectors are presently working on a position paper for the creation of a banana research institute that is aimed to boost the banana industry in Davao Region.
Robert Quinto, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (DCCCII), told reporters here that a banana research institute is expected to be created during the first Philippine Global Banana Summit to be highlighted in the Davao Trade and Expo (DATE) 2010 in November.
Quinto said the institute “may be run by the private or government sector which will cater to all banana stakeholders, especially the small banana growers.”
DATE 2010 chairperson Lizabel Holganza stated that they are working to put together a technical working group that will look into the details of a research paper for the concept of the banana research institute.
Holganza said this is in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Science and Technology and other stakeholders.
She informed that the institute would focus on research and documentation about banana.
DA regional director Carlos Mendoza said the need to put up a banana research institute was an offshoot to the recent convention of the Philippine crop protection group where banana issues were discussed.
“We would like to come up with a research institute that will call all partners and big players in the banana industry,” said Mendoza adding that the institute would help address “hot issues” on banana like aerial spraying.
Mendoza said that the institute would be projected to be like the Philippine Rubber Institute, that would administer research and development programs to “cater to the needs of the banana industry.”
“The research institute is not only for the big players. This is the chance for the small players to partake of the research,” Mendoza said.
“It is timely that we support the industry,” he added. [PIA 11/Carina L. Cayon]
