The Ecuadorian minister of agriculture, Javier Ponce Cevallos, has declared state of emergency for the banana sector in the country.
Under the terms of the declaration, the government will organise fumigation of all plantations against black sigatoka disease as well as taking control of buying fruit from producers via an intermediary for sale to exporters.
Ponce was meeting with banana producers in Babahoyo in the Los Ríos province on Friday when he made the announcement. He said the aim of the measures was to reduce market pressure on small and medium-sized producers who cannot find a market for their produce. He added that the spraying programme is to help small-scale growers and that it will be carried out at ground level in four cycles.
The minister is expected to meet with the sector to elaborate the plans later this week. The budget for the eight-week state of emergency is $5 million.
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