THE People's Republic of China (PROC) or Red China is a promising huge market of banana produce from Bohol considering its population of 1.2 billion but can Bohol growers produce enough to satisfy the demand. Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, who was the guest of the 2 nd Bohol Provincial Banana Congress held on July 20-21 at the APC compound in this city, issued the statement to inspire and motivate banana growers to plant more. He told the more than 200 Congress participants that Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, whose wife is a Boholana from Loboc, confirmed this (potential market in China) during his huddle with the secretary last week. Herrera, the chairman of the agriculture committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, dared banana growers in the province to unite and produce more apparently to arrest the growing poverty. This is a better alternative than seeking jobs abroad thereby contributing to the development of the country's economy, he added. People's Fair Trade Center (PFTAC) led by Engr. Vicente Loquellano with a handful of growers in the province is exporting standard-driven bongan variety to Japan. And yet the demand is so high because of insufficiency of supply, he said.

Herrera promised the Congress to extend fund support from the provincial coffers as seed money for the banana growers provided they do their homework. Bannering the theme, “ Empowering the Banana Stakeholders Gearing Towards Rural Development,” tackled and dealt with important subject matters, such as financing windows that gave the producers/dealers opportunity to do business being provided by Quedancor, PEF and Land Bank of the Philippines Financing Programs. On market matching, buyers here and from other places, such as VICSAL Development Corp., Cebu City Union Vendors Association, Robbie Trading, Eden Corp., All-Fresh Food Products Inc., and Asian Fresh Food Corp., also participated in the affair as facilitated by Agri-business division of the Provincial Agriculture Office. Other inputs included the Regional Banana Situation, and Banana enterprise and updates of the production technology of Lakatan and Cardaba varieties, marketing requirements of market opportunities, and Banana natural inputs. Accomplishment report of the Bohol Banana Industry Development Council (BBIDC) and election of officers also took place during the affair attended by DA-RFU-7 Ric Oblena, provincial consultant Dr. Jose Quitasol, Provincial agriculturist Liza Quirog and board member Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos, vice-chair of SP agriculture committee. The Congress was organized by the Bohol Banana Industry Development Council and co-organized by the Bohol Provincial Government through the Provincial Agricultural Office, City Government of Tagbilaran and the Department of Agriculture-Regional field Office region 7 .