Independent banana producers in Honduras have high hopes for 2010, forecasting an export volume of 14 million boxes.
Growers are expecting an income of around $70 million (£46m) across the industry and have received government backing, reports radioamerica.hn
Arturo Castillo, the manager of the National Banana Growers' Association (Aprobana), said that the government is backing the industry with 210 million lempiras (£7.3m).
The money is to be used to renovate farms and improve production after climatic conditions last year added to existing problems to produce just 2,000 boxes per hectare.
A projected income of $60-70m is based on the hope that the country will produce 3,000 boxes per hectare and collect at least 14m boxes this year.
Castillo said that he produced 8.5m boxes of bananas in 2008, but in 2009 this figure dropped to 6.5m boxes due to climatic effects.
Castillo added that the harvest reduction country-wide is also due to poor prices in the country and because there is no banana policy that allows them to offer the product at better prices to transnational corporations in the country.
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