[READ] APPPC Regional Workshop on System Approaches for the Management of Banana Diseases (Moko/Bugtok) and Fusarium Wilt Disease | November 11 to 15, 2024.
Published by Crop Pest Management Division
MANILA, PHILIPPINES | The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), through the Crop Pest Management Division (CPMD) and the National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) Secretariat, co-hosted the recently concluded APPPC Regional Workshop on System Approaches for the Management of Banana Diseases (Moko/Bugtok) and Fusarium Wilt Disease, from November 11 to 15, 2024 at the Acacia Manila Hotel, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila.
The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), through the Crop Pest Management Division (CPMD) and the National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) Secretariat, hosted the APPPC Regional Workshop on System Approaches for the Management of Banana Diseases (Moko/Bugtok) and Fusarium Wilt Disease from November 11 to 15, 2024, at the Acacia Manila Hotel in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila.
In addition to the host country, representatives from seven other Asian countries attended: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The workshop participants were officially welcomed by BPI Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban and BPI Assistant Director, Dr. Herminigilda A. Gabertan. The week-long event aimed to promote consistent interpretation and harmonization of the implementation of the System Approach for managing banana diseases, specifically Banana Bacterial Disease (Moko/Bugtok) and Fusarium Wilt Disease (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4)) among APPPC member countries.
Furthermore, the workshop included technical sessions, an open forum, a laboratory tour, a field visit, and country reports. This activity allowed local and foreign participants to share their respective countries’ status regarding the banana industry, common pests and diseases, incidences of bacterial disease and Fusarium Wilt Disease, as well as their management strategies and quarantine protocols.
The technical sessions began with the presentation about the ePhyto certification in the Philippines by the Plant Quarantine Station (PQS) Subic Area Manager, Ms. Carmela Rivera. It was then followed by Dr. Agustin Molina Jr., an International Banana Consultant from DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) discussing the system approach for managing Fusarium Wilt Disease in Asia and Director Panganiban’s introduction to the system approach and relevant International Standards on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).
On the second day, discussions about the control measures, record keeping, and institutional reports for large-scale incidences of Fusarium Wilt and Banana Bacterial Diseases were presented by Dr. Dennice Catambaca of Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO) and Dr. Gaudencia Lantican of Dole Philippines, Inc. National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) case studies on post-detection management of banana diseases were presented by CPMD Chief Dr. Peter Magdaraog, National Plant Quarantine Services Central Laboratory Chief Dr. Darwin Landicho, and Mr. Virgilio Gutierrez of DA-Regional Field Office – Regional Crop Protection Center (DA-RFO-RCPC) CARAGA.
Moreover, mechanisms for early detection and reporting, prevention measures for both large-scale and small-farm-level plantations, as well as strategies for preventing the spread of pathogens to uninfected areas were presented by Dr. Benny Corcolon of TADECO for Fusarium Wilt Disease and Mr. Mehlan Josol of Marsman Drysdale Agribusiness Group for Moko/Bugtok. Lastly, during the technical session portion, Dr. Fe Dela Cueva from the University of the Philippines (UPLB) presented on the system approach for managing Banana Bacterial Disease (Moko/Bugtok).
The delegates and host country facilitators visited three sites for learning, interaction, and observation during the laboratory tour. They visited the National Plant Quarantine Station Central Laboratory at the BPI Central Office in Malate; PQS – South Harbour at Manila Pier; and the Metarhizium laboratory of CPMD. Additionally, delegates gained firsthand experience in bagging, harvesting, inspecting, and observing actual infections of Moko and Bugtok Diseases in bananas during a field visit to an experimental site in Indang, Cavite led by Dr. Dela Cueva.
On the last day, foreign participants shared topics during the country reports portion that included: economic importance of their respective countries’ banana industries; common pests and diseases affecting bananas; management strategies for pests and diseases such as quarantine measures; monitoring and surveillance; eradication protocols; and ways forward.
