As an aid for Japan’s hunger, the Philippines is trying to ship bananas and plantains to fill in the stomachs of the March 11 earthquake victims who call for the need of food.
Thousands of Japanese had been hungered and became homeless due to the devastating earthquake that triggered a huge tsunami that hit Japan last week.
It had even left washed out towns of the north east coastal areas of the Honshu Island of Japan. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant had also been damaged by the huge tidal waves.
According to the Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the Department of Agriculture came up to a plan of shipping bananas specifically the “lakatan” variety together with “saba” which is the kind of plantain that can be boiled that is considered to be a staple food.
Philippines considers Japan to be the best importers when it comes to bananas. In addition, bananas are recognized to be one of the Philippines’ top export products to Japan. In fact, 95 percent of bananas that are consumed by the Japanese came from the Philippines as stated by the DA Secretary.
As a start, bananas will be sent to Japan and may be further followed by pineapples.
Alcala said in a statement that the Philippines is trying to send some containers of bananas to be able to help on Japan’s need for food. Meanwhile, the said action had already been agreed by the President Benigno Aquino.
The DA has already coordinated with the President receiving his permission to share what we have so as to show our solidarity with the said affected country.
Alcala also said that Japan’s agricultural areas had been greatly damaged so it is the time that the Philippines should extend its help by producing agricultural crops that have been badly affected in their area.