Bad weather cut banana output in H1

Bad weather caused a faster decline in banana output while the expansion of areas cultivated for pineapple failed to stop a slowdown in output during the first semester of 2013.

According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the slide in banana production quickened to 11 percent in the second quarter from 6.3 percent in the first quarter.

For the first half, the decline in banana output was pegged at 8.8 percent to end at 4.3 million metric tons. This is less than half the 9.2 million MT produced in all of 2012.

The BAS said in its latest quarterly report on major fruit crops that the reduction was due to the adverse effects of Typhoon “Ofel” in the Mimaropa region.

Output was also down in Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga due to the lingering effects of Typhoon “Pablo,” which ravaged these regions in December 2012.