Davao banana industry links farms to Asian markets

PANTUKAN, DAVAO DE ORO, Philippines — Bananas are not only a staple crop in the Davao Region but also a major export earner, with Cavendish and other varieties accounting for nearly half of the region’s export revenues in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Banana exports generated $499.42 million during the period, representing 49.22 percent of the Davao Region’s total exports, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The region’s dominance in banana production is also reflected in its farm output. In the first quarter of 2026, bananas accounted for 96.4 percent of Davao’s total fruit production, with 675,336.62 metric tons (MT) harvested.

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Among the producers helping sustain the industry is Dumaluan Development Group Corp. (DDGC) in this town, where premium Cavendish bananas are grown, harvested and packed for overseas markets.

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The company has 140 hectares planted with bananas.

READ: PH back as world’s No. 2 banana exporter

“Cavendish is highly in demand abroad,” Reicher Dumaluan, proprietor of DDGC, told the Inquirer on Sept 25.

The company harvests about 20 MT of Cavendish bananas a week, with its produce shipped to markets including China, Japan and Hong Kong.

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DDGC uses tissue-culture technology in its plantations, along with color-coded bagging to protect the fruit from pests and diseases. After harvest, the bananas undergo washing, sorting and packing to meet export requirements.

Livelihood

For workers, the plantation has become an important source of livelihood.

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Angelo Hugo, 38, who has worked at the company’s packing house for 12 years, said DDGC employs about 400 workers and staff.

“The plantation provides livelihood to many residents,” Hugo said.

Maria Luz Dumaluan, 37, a packer who has been with the company for two years, said the plantation provides her with employment close to home.

DDGC is owned by Boholano businessman Doloreich Dumaluan and his family from Panglao, Bohol. The family has expanded its business interests to Mindanao, including resort development and banana production.

Bananas remain central to the agricultural economy of Davao de Oro. In 2025, bananas accounted for 98.9 percent of the province’s total fruit production, according to the PSA.

Pantukan, a municipality whose traditional livelihoods include mining, farming and fishing, has also benefited from employment generated by banana plantations.

Aside from Cavendish, Cardava, commonly known as “saba,” is another banana variety widely cultivated in the Philippines.

Bananas are valued for their potassium and dietary fiber and are consumed fresh or used in appetizers, main dishes and desserts.

The Philippines remains one of the world’s major banana suppliers. A recent report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said the country shipped about 3 million MT of bananas in 2025, a 30-percent increase from the previous year.

The recovery followed production setbacks, including the spread of Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4, also known as “Panama disease,” the FAO report said.

The Philippines regained its position as the world’s second-largest banana exporter in 2025, according to the report. Japan and China were among the leading markets for Philippine bananas, with Japan sourcing an estimated 75 percent to 80 percent of its requirements from the Philippines.

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For communities in Davao, however, the banana industry represents more than an export commodity. It is also a source of jobs and income, linking Mindanao farms to consumers in major Asian markets. /cb