The Department of Agriculture's regional office (DA-11) has allocated PHP14.4 million for rehabilitation projects to aid banana farmers in two provinces in the Davao Region, Davao del Norte, and Davao de Oro, affected by Fusarium wilt. The funding will be distributed through the respective provincial governments' Quick Response Fund.

The project, "Kaagapay sa Malambuong Pagpanaging", or "a companion to prosperous banana farming," aims to rehabilitate at least 138.5 hectares of banana areas impacted by Fusarium wilt, benefiting 225 farmers in the two provinces. The funds will bolster banana production and provide livelihood assistance to the affected growers.

The project will cover production inputs, including 6,648 bags of Ammosul fertilizers, 1,385 bags of Muriate of Potash, 6,648 bottles of disinfectant, and 288,080 packs of Trichoderma.

Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne pathogen that targets banana plants. It can remain dormant for 30 to 50 years. The fusarium fungi obstruct the plant's vascular system, depriving it of essential nutrients and moisture, which ultimately causes the plant to turn yellow and perish.