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“You know what’s great about hitting rock bottom? There’s only one way left to go, and that’s up!”  -Buster Moon (Sing movie)

Philippine Cavendish Banana is already known for its distinctive deliciously sweet taste in comparable to its competitor nations.  That is what makes it a favorite among buyers.  Cavendish Banana is one of the Philippine’s best agricultural products, second only to coconut oil. The Philippines is the second largest banana exporter in the world, making the banana industry a consistent top dollar earner having shared 15-18 percent of the total top 10 agricultural exports revenue.   But trend change recently due a number of natural and man made calamity:

• Effects of climate change
• Typhoon and flooding
• Price war
• Spread of plant diseases
• Previous market crises in China and Iran
• The recent El Niño phenomenon and its drought effect
• Lack of government subsidy
• others

The problem is severe and one need not be a rocket scientist to figure what is going on. Sadly, the ones widely affected are not just the entrepreneurs and capitalist but the laborers who are earning hand to mouth.  These are the packing house workers, the container loaders, drivers, quality inspectors, porters and so on and so forth.   Come to think of it, these common workers have babies that needs milk and diapers, and has a family that has basic needs, plus an elderly parent who needs maintenance medicines to survive.  This industry employs 503,058 people receiving an estimated 44 billion Philippine Pesos in annual wages.  More than three million individuals are dependent on the banana export industry and it also helps mold the future of two million children in Mindanao Philippines.   But how can it sustain its support to the nation if the industry is facing with difficulties in finding ways to lower operation cost thus offer lower price competitively?

There are not much buyers recently for small and medium banana traders and exporters, as such, many are not earning enough for their families.  It is as simple as that.  The main factors are the higher operation cost and fluctuating farm gate price.

‘Don’t let fear stop you from doing the thing you love.’   -Buster Moon (Sing movie)

Life must go on.  We and our families also suffered from the setbacks but cannot stop now as being in this business is not always for profit.  We have purpose why we are here. Although we seek solution to resolve major issues, we also welcome support and donations for the benefit of those who are hardly hit — the hand to mouth earning workers and their families.  Every time you see Cavendish bananas on your supermarket or at market place, it did not just came there that easy.  We are literally exhausting sweat and blood as we are squeezed by importers and quarantine inspectors to perform and produce high standards.  Quality costs  Nonetheless, fear of not earning enough should not cripple us from doing the things we love.

Since 2007, this business has facilitated deliveries of Cavendish Bananas and other agricultural products to these nations:  China, Vladivostok Russia, Bulgaria, Iran, Egypt, Singapore, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.  If you can donate or wish to collaborate in supporting the industry especially the hardly affected, please do so.  You can email at sembawangtrading.co@gmail.com for details.

‘No one has become poor by giving.’