- Aims to develop mariculture
Panabo City – Congressman Alan “Aldu” Dujali has laid down a clear development agenda for Davao del Norte if elected Governor in the midterm elections, May next year.
In an interview with the Mindanao Journal, the 2nd District Representative of Davao del Norte said that top in his agenda is to fully revived the industry following the devastation of banana plantations caused by Fusarium wilt.
Available data show that about 300,000 families are affected by ;the decline of banana production following the spread of the dreaded Fusarium wilt disease commonly known as Panama disease.
In Davao del Norte, the soil-borne fungal disease started when the incumbent Gov. Edwin Jubahib ordered the dismantling of quarantine stations in Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation [TADECO] in strategic ingress and egress points in the plantations.
The quarantine stations requires vehicles to run through a chemical pond to soak the tires and for pedestrians to step with their foot-wear on on the same chemical preparation. The method is not only effective in controlling plant diseases but also those of animals and fowls.
Symptoms of Fusarium wilt includes yellowing of the leaves which later wilt and finally die. The fungus stay in the soil for a number of years which make it unsuitable for re- planting of bananas.
Tadeco management including its farm workers tried to stop Jubahib dismantling crew but failed because of their superior force. The excuse given by the provincial government was that they are out to reclaim the public road and dismissed and ignored the threat of the spread of the Panama disease. The demolition was only stopped when the Court issued a cease and desist order.
The spread of the disease however had started to affect small banana farm holdings whose plantations were totally wiped out later.
Congressman Dujali said that his immediate step will be to convene the management of banana industrialists to seek coordinated solutions to address the problem. He said the provincial government will help the small growers.
Dujali said the small landowners affected by the disease will have a variety of options. They can shift to other products like cacao and coffee among others. The government will extend financial assistance, provide disease-resistant seeds or seedlings.
The program, Dujali said, will be extended to lumad communities whose ancestral domain maybe suitable for any particular crops.
In a related development Congressman Dujali revealed that construction of a ₱30-million hatchery project in Samal is on going. Once in full operations the hatchery will provide bangus fingerlings and other exotic marine fish. He looks forward at Davao del Norte to be a major exporter of processed marine fish products.
“We have three major ports – the modern container port in Panabo, another ports in Madaum in Tagum and one in Samal. With these structures and variety of products” , the Governor-aspirant Dujali entoned, “it’s Davao del Norte – to – the – world!!!”
