What happens to the banana will always be a cause for alarm, because of the goodness of its fruit, its striking cultivation and unstable marketing, the agricultural world worries about its fate, alarmed when the news is not favorable, just as it is excited and happy to hear the news that confirm his hegemony. He was greatly saddened that export figures were falling due to a significant reduction in sales, but optimism and faith in his bright future was reborn when reliable statistics published by the Acorbanec Banana Marketing and Export Association revealed that it had brought about a recovery of such magnitude that by August 2023, the negative rush from the years 2021 and 2022 reversed towards a recovery of 7.17%, negating the negative omens due to the problems caused directly or indirectly by the war conflict in Russia and Ukraine, both prominent consumers of Ecuadorian fruit.

This is Formosana 218, a banana resistant to Fusarium race 4 that has been tested in two provinces of Ecuador

It is also encouraging that the dreaded plague of Fusarium R4T, which infects neighboring Colombia and Peru, has not entered our region, although the impact, which tends to worsen from another equally dangerous disease known as bacterial moko, continues.

It is evident the efforts of producers and exporters to maintain activity in the face of rising costs despite the indifference of outside retailers, who are reluctant to recognize them and manage to keep prices low.

We have to point out that other innovative manufacturers are joining the example of Mr. Pereira…

In this sense, it is worth highlighting the results achieved by the legendary farmer from Orense, Mr. Boanerges Pereira Espinoza, a historic breeder of a noble plant to which he devoted all his skills and knowledge, which he unreservedly radiates to his neighbors, with so much energy that he enthusiastically participates in tournaments where bunches are exhibited, competing according to technical and strict regulations to win the trophy called King Banana, a crown that has been awarded to him 14 times. He is not an investor of a table or a car directing from the inner roads of farms, he personally supervises the fields, areas of processing, packing and packaging with an incredible vitality that infects his grateful workers and technicians, with complete openness to explain to visitors the reason for his successes.

Banana exporters ‘reassure’ their customers in Europe by announcing the installation of scanners in ports in Ecuador in November

In the last competition, one of his specimens was the winner for showing a bunch of magnificent build, sound and clean, weighing 151 pounds, when the minimum for competition was 100, with 18 commercial hands, exceeding the 12 allowed. Its planting properties are a model of agronomic virtues, enabling all kinds of research, and an organic product based on seaweed is close to confirming the strengthening of crops, an ideal recommendation for resisting the attacks of diseases and pests.

We must point out that the example of Mr. Pereira is joined by other innovative producers who, in addition to the small ones, contributed with their work and capital to Ecuador remaining in first place in the export of the divine fruit. (OR)