Philippine banana growers have called for stricter accreditation processes from both the private and public sectors, as diseases like black sigatoka and fusarium wilt continue to take their toll, website Sunstar.com.ph.

The story reported a resolution was made at the recent Mindanao Export Congress to call for intensified action against these diseases, which were leading to lower quality banana output and profitability.

Industry representatives said the Department of Agriculture (DA) needed to strengthen its provisions of support programs.

"The international market of banana requires standards and requirements that exporters need to meet," the resolution said.

The growers said that the number of shippers sending low-quality banana exports was increasing.

"Consequently, this affects the trade of bananas in the international market," the resolution said.

Paglas Group chief executive officer Edgar Bullecer told the congress that weather and disease were major constraints that the industry faced.

"Bad quality bananas that manage to reach the export market compromise the image of overall Philippine banana," he was quoted as saying.

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