A fungal banana disease has wiped out more than 1,200 hectares of plantations in the Philippines with growers fearful it will spread, website Businessmirror.com.ph reported.

The Philippines Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) told the website that Panama disease has reached Bukidnon on the island of Mindanao, having already contaminated plantations in the Compostela Valley and Santo Tomas in the Davao del Norte province.

PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig has called on the government to urgently pass legislation for a National Research, Development and Extension Center for Banana (NRDECB), the story reported.

If approved the proposed research center would be a part of the University of Southeastern Mindanao in Davao City, with a starting national budget of PHP200 million (US$4.6 million), the story reported.

Photo: www.padil.gov.au

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