The Philippines has returned as the world’s second-largest banana exporter, driven by increased production and government support under the Department of Agriculture’s High Value Crops Development Program.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the latest report of the Food and Agriculture Organization confirmed that government interventions helped revive the industry.
“Many thought the banana industry was in decline. This is proof of concept that when interventions are done right, we can reverse the trend,” Tiu Laurel said, adding that the Department of Agriculture plans to apply the same approach to other high value crops.
The FAO attributed the rebound to a surge in Philippine supplies following recovery from weather and disease related damage in recent years. Industry sources cited investments in banana production in Region 2’s Cagayan Valley, backed by the DA’s provision of organic fertilizer and other farm inputs.
The Philippine Cardaba banana, or saba, is also driving exports through processed products such as banana chips, steamed saba and banana catsup.
Under the DA’s 2025 High Value Crops Development Program, the government distributed 106,000 banana planting materials for farm expansion and rehabilitation. It also rolled out 120,000 units of organic fertilizer to improve soil health and deployed more than 215,000 biological control agents, including Trichoderma, to boost plant resilience and reduce postharvest losses.
Despite the gains, officials cited the continued threat of Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, or Panama disease, which has affected about 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region. The disease continues to put pressure on the Cavendish variety, a key export product.
The DA has identified 10 more high value crops for export promotion: asparagus, avocado, cacao, calamansi, coffee, dragonfruit, durian, okra, pomelo and rambutan.
Fruits and peels rank as the country’s second-largest agricultural export. In November alone, exports in the category rose 33 percent year on year to $244.4 million.
Officials said the banana industry’s recovery reflects a shift toward value oriented and export ready agriculture, with sustained investments and disease management seen as key to maintaining growth.
