Banana producing countries in the region seek a common position in the face of rising costs and international markets

Presenting a common position regarding the production costs of bananas, caused among other reasons by the rise outside the inflationary rhythm of the value of packaging materials, fertilizers and more inputs, is the main objective of the Latin American Summit for the Banana Unit , to be held this Wednesday, January 12.

The meeting, which will telematically bring together the Ministers of Agriculture of Guatemala, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica, was called by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Pedro Álava.

Production costs and the Fusarium Race 4 bring together ministers from banana countries

“My proposal is to form a common front that defends the banana sector and the millions of Latin American families, whose livelihood is the cultivation, harvest and commercialization of this fruit,” said Álava.

The minister explained that the banana and other musaceae producing sector is experiencing a problem, due to the prices imposed by the large distribution chains, which apply a series of quality controls and standards, which the producers comply with and respect despite the rise in inputs. and freight that have made the activity more expensive.

However, this is not recognized by the marketing chains that sell the fruit at an excellent price.

In addition, at the meeting, Álava announced that he will propose strategies to combat the Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Cubense Race 4 Tropical (Foc R4T) and prevent it from spreading to other countries in the region. The plague has already been detected in Colombia and Peru.

José Antonio Hidalgo, executive director of the Ecuadorian Association of Banana Exporters (AEBE), pointed out that the high production costs are compounded by shipping rates and other accessories for packaging.

“Faced with this scenario of concern and alarm, there is a passivity of the links of the chain such as supermarkets and consumers who do not show sensitivity to assume these increases, pushing their impact directly to producers, workers and exporters of the respective nations,” said the leader, who recalled that the country’s export unions made, at the Latin American level, an agreement for shared responsibility and began an active campaign in the European Union with that position.

Producers support plan against Fusarium race 4 in Ecuador

Regarding the meeting organized by Álava, Hidalgo highlighted the initiative and indicated that it is necessary to unify efforts and form international strategic alliances, for example, to pool resources to combat the Fusarium race 4.

“This is a fight of all towards what the international markets are offering, this is a matter of supply and demand,” said the leader, who pointed out that this meeting of ministers will be a first meeting that he hopes will lead to different objectives and points with a view to participating in a public-private agenda at Fruit Logistics Berlin, which will be held from April 5 to 7 and is the most important fresh fruit fair in the world. (I)