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Table 3.
(Continued).
1993 and 1997
1993 % 1997 % Average %
Production Volume (‘000 t)
All Crops 65,767 68,301 66,778
Fruits 8,694 13.22 11,059 16.19 9,585 14.35
Banana 3,144 4.78 3,760 5.51 3,378 5.07
Mango 440 0.67 1,028 1.51 708 1.06
Pineapple 1,287 1.96 1,638 2.4 1,448 2.17
Papaya 65 0.10 65 0.10 62 0.09
Citrus 142 0.22 143 0.21 144 0.22
Durian 28 0.04 29 0.04 28 0.04
Other fruits 3,588 5.46 4,396 6.44 3,817 5.71
a BAS 1998.
Two of the country’s major fruits
selected, banana and mango are proven
export winners. The following discussions
demonstrate the importance of these two
major fruit crops in terms of economic
contribution, production and yield
performance, and market potential.
Banana
Banana is the prime fruit commodity of
the Philippines in terms of hectarage and
commercial value. It is widely grown
throughout the country, either as a
component of existing farming systems or
as the main crop in large plantations in
Mindanao. It is an important source of
income for small farmers who constitute 75%
of the banana growers.
Banana is used in several ways. Fruits
are usually eaten fresh but can also be
processed into banana cue, puree, jam, jelly,
chips, catsup, figs, spread, and preserve.
Banana chips are the top dollar earner
among the processed fruit products. Other
industrial products prepared from banana
include ethyl alcohol, flour, dye, floor wax,
paste, and cork board. The pseudostem is a
good source of fiber for handicraft materials.
In commercial farms in Mindanao, reject or
excess bananas are utilized as swine and
cattle feeds.
Area planted to banana increased from
336,542 ha in 1994 to 337,082 ha in 1998.
Southern Mindanao topped banana
production with 1.58 M t (Table 4).
The most popular banana cultivars
planted are Cavendish, Saba, Lakatan,
Latundan, and Bungulan. Cavendish is the
best grown variety for fresh export and
grown by most corporate farms in Mindanao.
Saba is the primary source of chips/crackers
and flour/powder, and is basically the main
ingredient for breakfast, cereals, tail mixes
(used for flavoring), and confections.
Latundan and Lakatan are the cultivars
famous in the local market. Figure 1 shows
that among the major cultivars planted in
2000, Saba (44%) accounts for the highest
share in terms of area covered, followed by
Latundan (20%), Lakatan (12%), Cavendish
(10%), and Bungulan (6%). Figure 2
presents the distribution of major cultivars
in terms of volume produced.
Of the country’s total banana production
(1991–2000), 50% is utilized in fresh form
for food, 35% is processed for food, and 15%
Banana and Mango ......................................................................................................................................... 7