The Needs That Make Us Human

8/13/2019 The Needs That Make Us Human

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The needs that make us human: "To love,to be loved, to be accepted, and to be

respected" Artist Alison Lapper was born without arms and was denied the affection she needed asa child. Here, as part of our "What Makes Us Human" series, she reflects on herexperiences, and what they can tell us about humanity.

BY ALISON LAPPER PUBLISHED 03 OCTOBER 2013 10:30

The artist in Trafalgar Square, where Marc Quinn's Fourth Plinth model of her body was unveiled in 2005. Photograph:

Richard Ansett/National Portrait Gallery.

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The problem with the question “What makes us human?” is that you have to find universal

characteristics that link people such as Hitler with Mother Teresa. I could have a stab at it,

and say freedom of choice and the desire to humanise everything, but an anthropologist

might hiss: “What about X?” And you’ll always get the plonker who will yell: “You don’t even

look human, love, so how can you talk?”

However you cut it, human beings are incredibly diverse, so this is a nightmarish question,

unless you are an expert. But I’m only an expert on my life, and the challenges disabled

people face. Based on that, I think there are four vital things that make us human: the need

to love; the need to be loved; the need to be accepted; and to be respected as a human being

in the first place.

In a scene in the film The Elephant Man, John Merrick is chased into a railway toilet and

trapped between two rows of urinals. With his back against the wall, he screams at the mob:

“I am not an animal! I am not ananimal ! I am a human being!” And of course he was. But to be treated like a human being, you have to be accepted as one.

When I was trapped at Chailey Heritage School (for disabled children), I was too afraid to

scream, but then I was only tiny and didn’t even know that I was different. I understood that

I was one of the 250 “strange little creatures” that lived there. But we were in the majority,

so acceptance wasn’t an issue. It only became an issue when we were faced with the outside

world. That was a whole different ball game.

As toddlers, we were taken to Brighton Beach, and we emptied it in ten minutes! We were

never asked if we minded being repeatedly sprawled naked in front of ten to 15 medicalprofessionals and endlessly poked, pulled, rotated and photographed. Every Wednesday

afternoon, wealthy donors would peer at us through the classroom windows. They didn’t

seem to see children, just poor, pathetic, unloved creatures.

Although w e’ve come a long way since then, I’m still stared at; some passers-by will do a

double-take if I’m heard making an intelligent comment; I’m told I intimidate people; I

make people feel uncomfortable, or even turn their stomachs. Why? Disabled people aren’t

a different species. We are human beings with the same needs and aspirations as everyone

else, and everyone has a basic need to be accepted.

I think that is why John Merrick said to the doctor Frederick Treves at the end of the film:

“My life is full because I am loved.” Now he could die in peace, because society had finally

accepted what he had always been – a human being who just happened to be disabled. I

believe that loving and being loved also make us human.



When I was little, the ward sister would sa y: “Put that crying baby down. They don’t need a

hug.” In her eyes, children like us didn’t need human contact, let alone love. We were all

treated the same way, so we grew up thinking that that was normal. Mind you, at the age of

five I also thought it was normal to be taken to Lewes Prison to visit the inmates. Our

surroundings were so alike, that it seemed that the only contrast between us was that we were locked away as punishment for being different, and they were locked away as

punishment for doing wrong.

Yet I was aware that kindness made me feel loved. Kindness that I had experienced from my

foster parents, my sister, some of the nursing staff and all the teachers at Chailey. But of

them all, my rock was always Nurse Mary Shepherd. Because of her, I recognised that

human beings were more than just fed, watered, educated and disciplined.

Despite my upbringing, the need to love and be loved was instinctive. As I grew up, I felt

love and respect towards my friends and myself. As I grew older, I fell in love, I made loveand experienced the joy of parental love.

I still do, but these feelings – feelings that make us human – are often denied to people like

me because of our disabilities.

So, what do I think makes us human? Four needs: to love; to be loved; to be accepted; and

to be respected.

This is the latest article in our series published in association with BBC Radio 2 and the

Jeremy Vine show http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2013/10/needs-make-us-human-love-be-loved-be-accepted-

and-be-respected

Philippines 1st exporter of Cavendish banana to US

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By Antonio L. Colina IV

Sunday, September 15, 2013

A TOTAL of 7.047 metric tons of Cavendish bananas coming from Bukidnon province arrived at the Port of Long Beach, Los

Angeles in California on September 9, Philippine Embassy in US announced Sunday (Manila time).

The bananas were exported by Dole Philippines to Dole Food Company Inc. through Mindanao International Container Terminal

in Tagaloan, Misamis Oriental on August 20.

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http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2013/09/15/philippines-1st-exporter-cavendish-banana-us-303409


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In its website, the Philippine Embassy in US announced that the arrival of the maiden shipment of Cavendish made the

Philippines the first Asian country to export bananas to US.

"With this shipment, we are hopeful that Philippine bananas would be able to find and satisfy a niche in the competitive US

banana market," Philippine ambassador to US Jose L. Cuisia Jr. said.

He is also hoping that the shipment of bananas from the country to US will increase.

Agricultural attaché Dr. Josyline C. Javelosa said the shipment came almost eight years after the Philippines first asked for

a market access in US.

The first shipment was just first out of the 3,000 metric tons that the US is expected to import from the Philippines this year.

"Philippine bananas are among the best in the world and there is opportunity to bring in the unique and special banana varieties

like lakatan and latondan, which Filipinos in the US have long been craving for and which Americans can learn to love," said

Javelosa.

The highland bananas will be distributed in US under Sweetio brand next week. Since the shipment arrived last week, they had

been transferred to a ripening warehouse.

With the entry of the first batch of banana export there, US is now officially in the list of foreign markets of the Philippines,

joining Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, China, Singapore, Middle East, Canada, Russia, and Indonesia.

The newly-found market is seen to further drive the growth of the Philippine banana industry, especially in Mindanao where most

of the banana plantations are still recovering from the Typhoon Pablo that hit the island on December 4, 2012.

Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director Stephen Antig said exporters from Mindanao

are hoping to export initially a total of 250,000 boxes of Cavendish to US annually on a trial shipment.

"It's just a small market just like when we started in China. We're hoping that it will grow. We're keeping our fingers crossed," he

said.

Antig added that the main constraint of the exporters to ship out bananas is the distance from Philippines to US.

"Shipping to a new market is not the end of it, you have to wait for the response from the market if the product arrived in good

quality and in good condition," he said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2013/09/15/philippines-1st-exporter-cavendish-banana-

us-303409

Our bananas — it’s no longer a sagging

industry BUSINESS & LEISURE By Rey Butch Gamboa (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 1, 2012 - 12:00am

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There is good news for our banana growers. At long last, the United States is willing to open its doors

toPhilippine banana, though only one variety has gotten the nod. This is the Highland Cavendis h variety that

is grown only in the highlands of Davao and Bukidnon.




http://www.philstar.com/author/Rey%20Butch%20Gamboa/BUSINESS%20%26amp%3B%20LEISURE







As opposed to Lowland Cavendish which some of our plantations grow, the highland variety is reportedly

much sweeter, a rather special variety indeed if the Americans are now agreeing to import them from us. I

understand that the plant quarantine protocol imposed on our bananas is rather stringent. Assuring that these

bananas get into US free from pests and diseases is a problem that the exporters should work on, and big

grower DOLE is at the forefront of working out the documentation, etc.

Through the government’s initiatives, we were able to penetrate the American market. However, locally it was

only DOLE who responded to that initiative, and they have taken up the task of ensuring proper documentation

and adherence to the strict banana protocol of the US.

The Highland Cavendish must be very special indeed. If you think about it, South America is much nearer to

the United States, as director Clar i to Barron of the Bureau of Plant Industry pointed out in an exclusive

interview with Business & Leisure , and this is a banana-growing country like us. Yet, thePhilippines is all set

to bag this much-needed contract by the end of this year, if all goes well. Once theUnited States approves the

ruling (which is now still under review), the commercial exportation of HighlandCavendish bananas will

commence. The initial volume of exportation is small at 3,000 metric tons, but we have to start somewhere.

The American acceptance of this type of our bananas into their soil enhances the image

of Philippine bananas to the rest of the world.

There are plans likewise to export to US trust territories like Guam, the Marianas Islands and evenHawaii.

The local banana industry remains big in the Philippines. Currently worth P34 billion, it

employs500,000 workers, and Director Barron claims this industry indirectly benefits five million Filipinos.

Whatever happened to our banana exports to China? Actually, I think there was a lot of hype to that. In2011,

our total banana exports to China were 513,000 metric tons. This year, there was so much talk of

aChinese boycott of our bananas, but as of end of October , our banana exports to this country stood

at429,000 MT, and we still have two months to go for the year.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

In the whole world, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry, there has been a tremendous increase inbanana exports. Last year, we exported 1.8 million MT. Now, as of end of October , our exports already stood

at 3.4 million MT to countries like Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and new markets like Mongolia,

Russia, Belorussia and theMiddle East.

Among the most common banana varieties that we ship out are the Senori ta variety which is much desired by

Japan, and the Bong onan, Saba, Latundan and Lacatan .

Here are some consumer concerns

Sometime back, I wrote about this big laundry/dry cleaners which I have been patronizing for several years

now. To cut to the chase, one of my tailored white shirts that was sent to them for laundry got lost somewhere,and when I filed for a claim, they pointed out to me the fine print in their service contract: for lost or damaged

garments, their liability is limited to 100 percent of their cost of service, or P1,250 for a slightly-used tailored

shirt that cost me at least seven times that. Of course I declined.

After several months, they sent me a check for P2,000 (a little bit more) as damages for the lost item but, get

this, they want me to sign a waiver that I will not write a word about the issue again nor similar issues in the

future. What if another reader has his own issue with drycleaners and wants a fair space in this column? I sent



back the check promptly and requested to have that particular clause taken out, which they refused saying that

it’s a “standard clause” in their waiver. I was just wondering, does this mean that all their claimants are

consumer rights-conscious journalists to have such a clause “standard” in their waivers?

We have no intentions whatsoever to besmirch the reputation of Metropole , being one of the better-known

laundry facilities hereabouts. Each business establishment has its own rules and ways to conduct theirbusiness and we do not question this. Our objective here is to inform the public of such fine print conditions that

they may not be aware of.

As for me, I’ll just have to find my way again to Ascot Chang for another well-tailored shirt to replace the one

that Metropole Laundry an d Dry Cleaners may have inadvertently lost. And charge it to experience.

Another consumer issue

Many stores resort to gimmicks using discount coupons which they give away during promos. White Hat ,

which sells frozen yogurt, launched their promo in conjunction with a theater mall where discount stubs

of P20 each were given to patrons. A reader wrote that when he and his family tried to use the discount cards

one Sunday afternoon at the SM Megamall, the cashier informed them that they had to declare where they got

the discount cards from. According to the reader they explained that each store had controlling numbers, so

this information had to be volunteered before they could honor the discount cards. But when it was pointed out

the fine print on the discount coupon clearly stated that the coupons should be honored in any and all White

Hat stores, they reportedly changed their tack. After a few phone calls, the reader added that they still refused

to honor the coupons because the theater mall’s membership card could not be presented, another alleged

requirement.

Our reader came to wonder. Where did that come from? Where did it say in the discount coupon that use of

the coupons was hinged on some membership affiliation? There was no reference at all to any membership, or

for that matter, any qualifying condition that must be met for the use of those discount cards.

Many of us do not bother with P20-discount cards, but young people on a strict budget do. It does not do well

for stores to prey on them in the guise of promoting their stores.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2012-12-01/877475/our-bananas-%E2%80%94-it%E2%80%99s-no-

longer-sagging-industry

PH banana exports grow 111%in 2012 despite China issueBY RAPPLER.COM

POSTED ON 01/24/2013 2:34 PM | UPDATED 01/25/2013 12:48 AM

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MANILA, Philippines - Despite the export restrictions imposed by China on Philippine bananas in

2012, total exports of the fresh fruit grew more than two-fold largely due to increasing demand from

the country's premium markets.

The local banana industry managed to increase shipments of Cavendish bananas to 3.8 million

metric tons in 2012, compared to the 1.8 million MT recorded in 2011, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

Director Clarito Baron said in a speech during the agency's 83rd anniversary on January 24.

Increasing demand from other traditional markets for Cavendish bananas, as well as the opening of

new export markets, contributed to the stronger year-on-year performance of the banana sector,

Baron said.

“There’s a significant increase in volume in major importing countries like Japan and Korea,” Barron

told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the event.

He cited the increase in exports to Japan and Korea, the top two destinations of Philippine

Cavendish bananas. The combined export receipts of over 1 million metric ton (MT) from these two

markets made up for the loses in the Chinese market.

The Philippines’ banana exports to Japan tripled to 1.86 million MT in 2012 from the previous year's

508,000 MT. Exports to South Korea, on the other hand, soared to 657,000 MT in 2012 from the153,000 MT volume in 2011.

Banana exports to China fell by around 27% to 473,000 MT from 650,000 MT.

Baron added the Philippines was also able to ship to new destinations like Indonesia, Pakistan,

Jordan, and other Middle East countries.

http://www.rappler.com/business/5253-philippine-banana-impounded-amid-china-sea-spat






Baron noted that restrictions on Philippine banana exports to China are now easing. Chinese

quarantine officials have also notified Manila of the improvement in the quality of banana shipments

to China.

“China remained our third biggest market, next to Japan and Korea. But they still play a big role as

one of our biggest banana export market,” he said.

For 2013, Barron said they expect banana exports to further increase as the planned export of

bananas to the United States pushes through by the first quarter of 2013.

The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest exporter of bananas. - Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/business/20345-ph-banana-exports-grow-111-in-2012-despite-china-issue

Banana:Postharvest Situationer

Banana is the 4rth largest produced fruit crop of the world. It is also the fourth

largest produced commodity by the Philippines next to paddy rice, coconuts, and

indigenous pigmeat respectively.

The banana plant is often erroneously referred to as a “tree”, it is actually an herbwith succulent, very juicy stem – a cylinder of leaf petiole-sheaths, reaching a height

of 20-25 ft. and arising from a fleshy rhizome or corm.

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The plant needs 10-15 months of frost-free conditions to produce a flower stalk. All

but the hardiest varieties stop growing when the temperature drops below 53°F.

Growth of the plant begins to slow down at about 80°F and stop entirely when the

temperature reaches 100°F.

Bananas grow best in full sun, however, high temperatures and bright sunlight will

also scorch leaves and fruit. Freezing temperatures as well will kill the foliage. In

most areas bananas require wind protection for best appearance and maximum

yield. They are also susceptible to being blown over. Bananas, especially dwarf

varieties, make good container specimens if given careful attention. The plant will

also need periodic repotting as the old plant dies back and new plants develop.

(www.crfg.org , 2007 )

History

Some horticulturists suspect that the banana was the earth’s first fruit. It has been in

cultivation since the time of recorded history. (www.eatmorebananas.com , undated )

Banana was first mentioned in Buddhist texts 600 years BC. Alexander the Great was

first to discover the taste of the banana in Indian Valleys around 327 BC. China had

an organized banana plantation in the year 200 AD. Banana was brought back

to Palestine by Islamic conquerors in 650 AD. And finally, Arabic merchants spread

the banana all-over Africa. In 1502, the Portuguese started the first banana

plantation in the Caribbeanand in Central America . (www.vandamme.be , undated )

According to Spanish history, Friar Tomas de Berlanga brought the first banana root

stocks and planted them in the rich soil of the Caribbean in 1516. In the 1800s,

sailors who traveled to the Caribbean brought home a few stems with them.

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Bananas were officially introduced to the Americans at the 1876 Philadelphia

Centennial Exhibition.

In India, bananas were called “Fruit of the Wise Men”. According to Indian legend,

wise men meditated under the shady, green leaves of the banana plant. Don’t you

wish you had a banana plant in your backyard? (www.dole5aday.com , 2004)

Importance of the Crop

Banana is now one of the most popular of all fruits. Although it is viewed as only a

dessert or an addition to breakfast cereal in most developed countries, it is actually a

very important agricultural product. It is the fourth most valuable food after rice,

wheat and milk. Banana and plantain (which is a type of banana) are staple foods

that represent major dietary sources of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins A, B6 and C,

potassium, phosphorus and calcium. (www.aspnet.org)

Bananas come in a variety of size and color, most cultivars are yellow when ripewhile some are red or purplish. Ripe banana fruit is eaten raw or cooked. Unripe or

“green” bananas are used in cooking and are the staple starch of many tropical

populations. The commercial dessert cultivars are non-seasonal crop hence, are

available fresh year-round.

The flower of the banana plant (a.k.a. banana blossom or banana heart) is used in SE

Asian, Bengali and Kerala ( India ) cuisines. The tender core of the banana plant’s

trunk is also used in Burmese dishes, Bengali and Kerala cookings. The juice extract

prepared from the tender core is used to treat kidney stones. Banana fried with

butter is a popular dessert in Malaysia , Singapore and Indonesia . Banana chips are a

snack produced from dehydrated or fried banana. Banana fritters can be served with

ice cream as well. Bananas are also eaten deep fried, baked in their skin in a split

bamboo, steamed in glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaf, or used in making jams.

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The leaves of the banana are large, flexible and waterproof; they are used as

umbrellas and to wrap food for cooking. In India , juice extracted from the corm is

used as a home remedy for the treatment of jaundice. In other places, honey is

mixed with mashed banana fruit and used for the same purpose.

The banana plant also has long been used as a source of fiber for high quality

textiles. Banana fiber is used in the production of banana paper.

(www.en.wikipedia.org , 2006)

Nutrient Composition

The banana is nourishing, does not contain fat, and can be eaten at every hour of the

day because of its digestive properties. The banana holds 23% of hydrocarbonate for

0.2% of fat. It has 0% cholesterol and a 100g banana has as low calories as a 100g of

yoghurt with fruit.

The banana is full of proteins and the sugar provided gives a lot of energy best forthose engage in sports requiring endurance. Moreover, it contains selenium,

magnesium, iron and lots of vitamins and is recommended for salt-free diets because

of its low sodium chloridium contents.

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Banana, raw Nutritional value per 100 g

Energy 90 kcal 370 kJ

Carbohydrates 22.84 g

- Sugars 12.23 g - Dietary fiber 2.6 g Fat 0.33 g Protein 1.09 g Thiamin (Vit. B1) 0.031 mg 2% Calcium 5 mg 1% Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.073 mg 5% Iron 0.26 mg 2% Niacin (Vit. B3) 0.665 mg 4% Magnesium 27 mg 7% Pantothenic Acid (B5) 0.334 mg 7% Phosphorus 22 mg 3% Vitamin B6 0.367 mg 28% Potassium 358 mg 8% Folate (Vit. B9) 20 ug 5% Zinc 0.15 mg 1% Vitamin C 8.7 mg 15%

Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults.

Source: USDA Nutrient database

WORLDWIDE BANANA INDUSTRY SITUATION

Bananas constitute 73% of consumer fruit intake. They are an important food item

for Filipinos, a source of income for local farmers and a foreign exchange earner for

the country. They are the leading Filipino fruit crop in terms of area, volume and

value of production. The average annual land yield of the Philippines is 9.4 ton/ha.

while big plantations produce about 40 ton/ha. (Espino, et al, 1999)

The Philippines ranked fifth among the top producing countries of banana (Fig.1).



Fig.1. Average Volume of Production of Top Producing Countries (‘000 tons),1996-2005

The existing agro-climatic conditions of the Philippines greatly favor cultivation of

this crop. Cultivation practices could be easily adapted to small farm conditions. It is

not seasonal and has a continuous cropping system through the ratooing process. This

means that it provides a regular source of income for small farmers throughout the

year. F ig. 2 shows the average area harvested of top banana cultivating countries

(1996-2005).

Fig.2. Average Area Harvested of Top Cultivating Countries (‘000 has.), 1996-2005



Small Philippine farms with areas less than 2 hectares have land yield of 3-10 MT/ha.

and the products are just for domestic consumption while large plantation of more

than 20 hectares yield more than 20 MT/ha. and the products are exported to other

countries (www.fao.org , 2002). It is noticeable in the following figure (Fig.3) that the

top producing countries also consume more of this commodity except for USA whichis the top importing country of banana (Fig.5).

Fig. 3. Average Banana Consumption of Top Consuming Countries (‘000 has.), 1996 -2005

The Philippines contributed with almost 10% of the world supply in years 1996-2005

(Fig.4). Two-thirds of the bananas exported are grown in Mindanao Island . The

country is also the main world exporter of banana chips and the demand is

increasing. Chips are exported to 30 countries with US and EU being the major

importers.

http://www.fao.org/

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Fig. 4. Average Volume of Exports of Top Exporting Countries (‘000 tons), 1996 -2005

The latest processed products of banana to enter the market is banana wine. It has

been a very lucrative business in the Malawi area and elsewhere in Africa and in

some parts of Asia and Latin America . In Tanzania , banana bear is further distilled

into a liquor called ‘gongo’ which has high demand however, the government

declared it illegal as it is perceived to contain poisonous ingredients.

Case studies initiated by the International Network for the Improvement of Banana

and Plantain (INIBAP) were conducted in 9 countriesnamely: Malawi , Tanzania , Cameroon , Nigeria , Nicaragua , Costa

Rica ,Philippines , Malaysia and India.

India exhibited the widest range of banana products. This includes banana paper,

clothes, slippers, bags, baby food, puree, juice, wine, chips, banana halva, bajii, figs,

etc. Brazil also brought a lot of interesting products including pasta made from

banana flour. In most of these countries, banana chips surfaced as the most

marketable product. Mr. Max Reynes, a food technologist from the Centre decooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement

(CIRAD), France , advised that for chips to penetrate into the export market, the

packaging as well as the nutritional quality must be improved especially if you want

to export to European countries where there are rigid nutritional requirements.



The top importing countries of banana products is shown in Fig.5. As mentioned

earlier, USA is the top importing country along with Germany , Belgium-Luxembourg,

and Japan . They are not among the major producers of this commodity.

Fig.5. Average Volume of Imports of Top Importing Countries (‘000 tons), 1996-2005

PHILIPPINE BANANA INDUSTRY SITUATION

PRODUCTION

The Philippines ranked fifth largest producer of banana in the world. India is the top

producer followed by Ecuador , Brazil , and China . The volume of banana production

in the country by region from 2001-2005 is presented in Table1. Fig.6 shows the

comparative banana data for 1996-2005 in the Philippines.

Table 1. Volume of Banana Production in metric tons by region

REGION 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

PHILIPPINES 5,059,360 5,274,826 5,368,977 5,631,250 6,298,225

CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) 22,522 22,072 22,353 23,620 23,899

REGION I (Ilocos Region) 33,245 32,963 33,162 35,214 37,370

REGION II ( Cagayan Valley ) 265,199 270,778 231,486 211,358 269,242

REGION III ( Central Luzon ) 46,249 46,383 44,194 45,032 46,411

REGION IV-A (CALABARZON) 139,369 142,046 144,145 141,732 138,854 REGION IV-B (MIMAROPA) 159,545 160,160 169,418 167,479 203,676



REGION V (Bicol Region) 63,249 69,380 74,480 69,161 68,235

REGION VI ( Western Visayas ) 256,146 254,640 254,143 265,101 286,637

REGION VII ( Central Visayas ) 165,931 163,376 167,709 164,915 146,100

REGION VIII ( Eastern Visayas ) 226,987 230,121 233,629 230,989 234,768

REGION IX ( Zamboanga Peninsula ) 162,069 170,865 168,019 178,885 242,490

REGION X ( Northern Mindanao ) 518,596 534,815 515,502 571,626 590,026 REGION XI ( Davao Region) 2,015,732 2,081,419 2,149,556 2,308,773 2,673,618

REGION XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) 429,480 522,746 582,088 631,697 753,495 CARAGA Administrative Region 197,848 197,912 202,711 205,039 208,432 ARMM (Autonomous Region of

MuslimMindanao ) 357,193 375,150 376,381 380,629 374,970

Copyright © 2007 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization

Fig. 6. Comparative Banana Data for 1996-2005, Philippines

HARVEST, POSTHARVEST AND HANDLING



Banana is transported in specialized refrigerated ships. Bananas are loaded into

refrigerated cargo vessels and shipped green at a controlled temperature of 14.5°C

(58ºF). Crossing to Europe lasts about 11 days where the temperature is frequently

controlled to avoid any premature ripening. Europe imports Chiquita, Bonita and

Fyffes variety.

A long time ago bananas were imported in stems. Then

from, Rotterdam to Brussels by train. Afterwhich they will be stocked in temperature

controlled rooms until they mature. Today, bananas are imported in boxes, which

enables a more easy manipulation and a more convenient process of transportation.

But just like in the past, they are stocked in hermetical ripening rooms for 6-8 days at

a temperature that does not exceed 14.5°C which allows a homogenous ripening of

bananas even at different sizes. (www.vandamme.be , undated )

Bananas require different handling and postharvest treatments depending on

variety. The following SWOT Analysis by Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia of the Bureau of

Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) can be a guide as to the postharvest and

handling requirements as well as gaps to be addressed for the Philippine banana

cultivars.

SWOT Analysis for Different Banana Cultivars (By: Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia)

Saba / Cardaba:

STRENGTH WEAKNESS OPPORTUNITY THREAT

High demand for

fresh and

processed product

Excellent starch

quality

The country is

the sole producer

in large quantities

Lack of quality standards for

both fresh and processed

products

Poor cultural management by

the farmers

Longer growing period

Low plant density per unit

Improved human

nutrition

Increase economic

return

High demand in the

international market

for processed

product

Susceptible to

viruses and other

systematic

diseases

Land use/

conversion







Can be grown in

marginal areas

Resistant to

major diseases

Low input

requirement

Multi-purpose

cultivar (fiber,

leaves, male bud,

stem)

Can be grown

organically

area

Susceptible to “Bugtok”,

bract mosaic and other pests

Lack of info on pre and post-

harvest technologies

Inadequate infrastructure

Inappropriate marketing

system

Poor and expensive transport

Lack of entrepreneurial skill

by the farmer

Prone to typhoon/ strong

wind

CARP implementation

Lack of marketing strategies

High demand in the

domestic market as

snack food

Lakatan:


High demand in

the local market

High potential for

the export market

Starting to be

grown

commercially in

large areas (>20ha.)

The country is the

sole producer in

large quantities

Good intercrop

Poor cultural management

followed by growers

Susceptible to viruses, leaf

diseases and insect pest





system

Lack of entrepreneurial skill of

farmers

Increase demand in

the local and

international market

Preferred in the

local market

High price

Appreciation of the

market of high quality

fruits

Improved human

nutrition

High economic

return

Viruses,

diseases and

other pests

Land use/

conversion

High pesticide

use



High yield

Can be grown

organically

Lack of marketing promotions

in other countries

Lack of quality standard for

fresh fruit


winds

CARP implementation


Latundan:


Consumer specific

The country is the

sole producer in

large quantities

High sugar

content

Can be grown

organically

Stress tolerant

Can be grown in

marginal areas

Have medicinal

property

Susceptible to viruses andother pests

Limited market

Poor cultural management

followed by farmers




Short postharvest life

Finger dropping

Thin skinned and prone to

fruit cracking

Lack of quality standards for

fresh fruit


system

Lack of entrepreneurial skill of

the farmer


wind

Improve humannutrition

Not enough supply

in the market

High economic

return

Viruses andother pests

Land use/

conversion

High pesticide

use



Inappropriate marketing

system

CARP implementation


Cavendish:


Favorable agro-

climatic conditions

Proximity to

markets in the region

Availability of

technology, logistic

support and

manpower

Globally

competitive product

and superior quality

Developed

infrastructure in

Davao del Norte

Institutional

producers have an

organization, PBGEA

Perishable product

Mature and undifferentiated

produce

Limited direct market access

Very labor intensive

Small growers difficult to police

Land disputes affecting

productivity and investments

Priority for water availability

Truck hauling

Prone to advocacy issues raised

by NGOs

Integrate forward

selling and

distribution

Look for new

markets

Find ways for

product

differentiation to

enhance price and

saleability

Capitalize on

emerging niche

markets

Develop a Filipino

global brand

Occasional risks

due to adverse

climatic

disturbances

Spiraling cost of

production and

business costs

Weakening

economic

conditions of the

country

Unresolved

agrarian reform

issues

Competitiveness

of Latin American

Bananas

Increasing

supply and market

price softening

Proliferation of

“fly-by-night”

traders who

encourage pole

vaulting

Land use issues

Proliferation

and illegal use of



unregistered

chemicals

Security issues

Dependence

onJapan as single

biggest market

OVERALL LOSSES

Small farms in the Philippines have low yield due to the prevalence of diseases and

the use of low input technologies. The low availability of good planting materials,

high influence of pests and diseases, postharvest losses, inadequate support

infrastructure, market and lack of credit access and transportation costs make it

difficult for small scale farmers to meet the export requirements. (Espino, et al,

1999)

Nowadays, researchers are using tissue culture technology to produce disease-free

planting materials and exploring the use of biotechnology to develop disease-

resistant plants. Many banana producers lament the loss of huge portions of banana

through the presence of virus diseases, such as bunchy top, mosaic, bract mosaic,

and banana streak. Researchers, throughout the world, consider banana bunchy top

as the most significant disease problem of banana. Biotechnology manipulations

would be highly useful in producing healthy banana that can resist this dreaded

banana disease. (www.dost.gov.ph , 2002)

MARKETING

http://www.dost.gov.ph/






Banana production in the Philippines is extensive. The crop is grown along the road

side, on mountainside, on home lots and in small farms. As a result, marketing is

highly decentralized. In a recent PCARRD-coordinated study, it was found that the

banana marketing inefficiencies could result to losses in farmers’ incomes by as

much as 25% of what they currently get. There are also substantial losses in the waybananas are graded, counted, handled, and packaged. (www.pcarrd.gov.ph , 2001)

Grades

Classification of banana quality was based on a number of quality indexes including

dirt, cracks, bruises, scratches, decomposition, cleanliness of the banana cluster andmore. The Israel Agriculture Ministry recently issued a guide to rank banana quality

to conform to the European standards. The guide classified the fruit according to a

discreet grading system: The best are “choice” bananas, grade A bananas are

“clean”, grade B are “medium”, and grade C are “poor”.

A choice banana, for example, weighs over 170 grams (about 6 ounces), has a 35-40

mm diameter, and has no cracks, dirt, decomposition, scratches or bruises.

In some parts of the Philippines like in Mindanao , farmer sort bananas in sizes and

sold on a per kilogram basis unlike in Mindoro and Quirino where no standard

specifications are being followed in terms of size, dimension or quality.

Prices

Comparative prices of different varieties of banana for 2001-2005 in

the Philippines can be found in Table 2. On the average, the Lakatan variety has the

highest wholesale and retail price while the Bungulan variety is the cheapest in terms

http://www.pcarrd.gov.ph/






of wholesale price. The comparative average retail and wholesale prices for the

different varieties is presented in Fig.7 .

Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics

Exports



Fresh Banana ranked second in the country’s Top Agricultural Exports next to

Coconut Oil and followed by Pineapple and its products. In 2004, the Philippines had

11.05% share in the world market with 1,797.34 T mt of exports against the

16,262.61 T mt of total world exports (Fig.8 ). The Philippines is the only Asian

country included in the world’s top exporters of banana.

Japan (excluding Okinawa ) is the Philippines ’ top export market for banana with

918.23T mt valued at 172.78M USD. The volume and value of fresh banana exports

in other major Philippines markets can be found inFig. 9.



The percent in fresh banana exports of major Philippine markets in 2005 is

in Fig.10 . Japan receives 45% of our country’s banana exports followed by South

Korea at 12%.

http://www.philmech.gov.ph/phindustry/banana.htm

Philippine Banana Production And Exporting






by John Dela Cruz

10

The Philippine banana industry is one of our best agricultural products. Most of the banana producers are

found in Mindanao the southernmost island of our country. It started in Davao del Norte around the 60′s

and has flourished to eleven provinces with about 50,000 hectares of farmland. It is estimated that 35

billion pesos is invested in this agricultural industry which includes the cost of infrastructure, planting and

distribution.

Bananas

Worldwide banana exporting and consumption

Fun Fact: The worldwide consumption of bananas is around 220,000 tons a day or 80 million tons per

year. In Uganda each person eats around 1.33 lbs per day. Now that’s going bananas!

The top 10 banana producers in the world are as shown in the chart below.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/106828064320396598101/posts



http://www.manilatrade.com/philippine-banana-production-and-exporting/


http://www.manilatrade.com/wp-content/uploads/top-10-banana-producers1.png

http://www.manilatrade.com/wp-content/uploads/Bananas1.jpg

http://www.manilatrade.com/wp-content/uploads/top-10-banana-producers1.png






Top 10 Banana Producers (image source - wikipedia.org)

Philippine banana exporting

Bananas

The banana exports of the Philippines is actually our 5th largest export product. In 2008, the industry has

contributed taxes of almost 400 million pesos. We are also seen as one of the strongest producers of

this food product worldwide because of our low production cost and quality. The banana production and

exporting in our country continues to see tremendous growth and popularity.

Our banana exports are very competitive and is the 3rd biggest in the world. We are also the only country

in Asia that is among the top 5 in this industry. Approximately 150 million boxes each weighing 14 kilos

were exported in 2008 to our main customers which are Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Korea, China,

Singapore, Middle East, Canada, Russia and Indonesia.

ManilaTrade supports the growth of our Philippine exports

To help the growth of our Philippine export products ManilaTrade is looking for banana producers and

exporters to feature in our website. By using the latest internet marketing techniques, the presence of our

Pinoy products in the global market can reach new heights.

If you are in the banana production or exporting industry please send us an email

[email protected] so we can feature your business in our website. For interested importers you

can also send us an email so we can connect you to the best local suppliers.

Resources:

http://www.pbgea.org

http://www.dti.gov.ph

http://www.wikipedia.org


http://www.manilatrade.com/food-and-beverage-philippines/



http://www.manilatrade.com/top-10-philippine-exports-for-small-to-medium-scale-businesses/



mailto:[email protected]










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