by Nicasio Angelo Agustin
There were some hullabaloos in the province of Davao del Norte these past few days regarding the aerial spraying in banana plantations. Obviously, the environmental group that spearheaded the banning of aerial spray in Davao City has moved to the country’s number one grower of bananas. We recall how the group gained a victory in Davao City when the city council passed an ordinance for the banning of aerial spraying in banana plantations.
Last week, the governor of Davao del Norte raised his concern. If the group succeeds in calling the attention of the communities and the provincial council and lead the banning of aerial spraying, the banana industry would greatly suffer. Even local and regional economies which are both dependent on, and are sensitive to, the fluctuations in the banana industry, would definitely suffer a great blow. For sure, banana producers will have to move to other areas to grow their crop. This would mean lost income for the province and banana plantation workers losing their jobs. The social and economic implications of such a ban are alarming. Data from various studies here and abroad show that benefits in terms of local income and employment are high in banana plantations. In fact, the demand for the product in developed countries has been so high that its export has led to a favorable trade performance. Banning the use of aerial spray is already tantamount to exterminating the banana industry. Without the aerial spray, operations would be very costly.
The position of the environmental group behind all these banning initiatives is valid and true. While they recognize the benefits that banana plantations can generate for local and national economies, they also believe that these benefits do come with potentially high health and environmental costs.
The issue that needs to be settled at least is the ability and capability of the LGUs to determine the benefits from banana plantations vis-à-vis the social costs involved in terms of environment and public health impacts. Thus, the proposal of the governor to conduct further studies as they apply to specific areas is very laudable. It should be noted also that plantations in Davao del Norte, and other banana plantations elsewhere in the Davao region came much earlier before the settling in of people. It is not as if the banana plantations were the ones that encroached on human settlements. Basic concepts in land use progression – and even mere common sense – would tell us that such is not the case. In this very limited sense, it would be unfair to put such pressure on the industry.
We can take these hubbubs as timely wake up calls for us to take land use planning and zoning seriously – locate people where they are safe and protected from harm and where they could enjoy healthy living; or locate economic activities away from people, especially those that are harmful both to people and to the environment. But the most important thing is to check our agricultural production practices to ensure safety and general welfare of people.
I don’t personally think that aerial spraying, per se, is bad. It is the most cost-effective means to ensure optimum harvest in banana plantations. I am more concerned with the chemicals or substances used as pesticides. If these are proven toxic and harmful, any manner of application – aerial or otherwise – also becomes very harmful. From what I know, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has been actively monitoring chemicals used in aerial spray, and the agency has actually banned certain chemicals and substances from use in big banana plantations. Among those that are carefully being monitored are benomyl, propiconazole, chlorothalonil, tridemorf, fungicides thiabendazole, propiconazole, and imazalil; nematicides terbufos and cadusafos; and insecticide chlorpyrifos, and of course, a very harmful substance, the dibromochloropopane, which had been banned from use in the United States as early as the late 70s.
Before we consider the banning of the aerial spray, let us carefully look into the consequences and the options that we still have. More than the method, we should be concerned with the substance.
After all, the banana industry aint no monkey business.
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
