Export potential or exploitation?
Farmers on Negros island in the Philippines are being encouraged to adopt a more balanced approach to farming after hard lessons were learned by both farmers and traders involved in the export of a speciality banana which grows wild in the island mountains.
The 'balangon' is green, even when ripe, with a very yellow flesh and a distinctive sweet and sour taste which is particularly favoured by the Japanese. The marginalized farming communities of Negros were therefore delighted in 1987 when Japanese importers planned to buy a fruit that they themselves did not eat. However, although exports led to a tripling in incomes, the trade soon ran into problems. Despite the increase in farmers' incomes, very little investment was returned to the soil and over production, due to increased planting of the balangon trees, soon led to degradation of the fragile mountain soil. In addition, the trees were hit with 'Bunchy top virus' a devastating disease of bananas which severely affected the plantations.
The Japanese importers of the balangon, Alter Trade Corporation have initiated a banana planting project which has allowed the export trade of the bananas to continue whilst promoting a more sustainable approach to its production. Farmers involved in the scheme have been contracted to apply organic compost to their plots and to plant no more than 250 banana trees in a one-hectare area. The trees are intercropped with a variety of fruit, grain and vegetable crops. This diversification reduces the farmers' dependency on the bananas whilst still providing income from the export of balangon and the sale of surplus cash crops to local markets. Farmers have also been encouraged to form co-operatives to promote direct trading with ATC and to aid the sharing of ideas and raise questions for discussion.
