Saba Variety

If Lakatan is the most popular dessert banana, Saba (also known as dippig in the Ilocano dialect) is considered as the number 1 in terms of cooking variety in the Philippines. It can be boiled, mixed in halo-halo, cooked as banana cue, turon, and may be processed as chips. The plant is sturdy, more resistant to Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), although lately there have already been a lot of plants being infected by the disease. In the minadanao areas, saba plantations who does not practice proper management practices are having problems with a bacterial disease known as bugtok/tibagnol. This disease as well as its prevention and control will be discussed in details in my future posts.

Lakatan Variety

Lakatan is the most popular dessert banana variety in the Philippines. It is also the most expensive that is why it is gaining popularity for those for farmers who wants to earn more in growing bananas. However, it is very susceptible to pest and diseases especially to the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV). The diseases has eradicated most of the lakatan plantations in the northern part of the country (Luzon) and as a result, most of the fruits being sold in the market are coming from Davao (Mindanao areas). This would further increase its price because of the additional transportation cost being shouldered by the consumers.

Philippine Bananas Diversity

How many banana varieties do you know? In the Philippines, there are around 91 distinct bananas: 47 are dessert types, 37 are cooking types, and 7 have dual purpose (consumed either fresh or cooked).

Bananas can be grown in a variety of production systems

Export oriented - High input production system

Medium Scale - Moderate to High Input Farming
(Local Consumption)

Low to no input production system
(Backyard)

How to harvest bananas?

When to harvest?