Gensanportal - Mindanao News Blog

Members of the Tupi Balangon/ Bongulan Banana Growers Association, (TUBAGA) Inc., headed by manager Lito Apuzen (far left), show off the organically-grown bongulan bananas (native Cavendish) they export weekly to Japan, and grown on their farm in Tupi, South Cotabato. TUBAGA has been certified as an organic foods grower by Germany-based Ecocert, and is accredited to export its bananas to Europe and the Middle East. It is comprised of more than 200 Christian, Muslim, B’laan and T’boli members, and has been provided with training in banana production and pest management, and assisted through marketing promotions, participation in trade fairs and the development of market links by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. TUBAGA was recently recognized as the Best Organic Farming Association 2009 (regional and national level) by the Department of Agriculture. The GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council. GEM