In recent weeks, several trucks loaded with plantain from Ecuador have arrived to Bogota's Supply Centre, Corabastos. This, in turn, has generated an oversupply of plantain and, thus, a significant reduction in the domestic product's price.
Alvaro Ernesto Palacio Pelaez, CEO of Asohofrucol, expressed concern over the influx of Ecuador plantain, into the country. According to him, "this affects the competitiveness of the plantain producers as they have to compete with prices lower than what they need to breakeven."
"Additionally, currently there are no safeguards for the imports of plantain, which leaves this subsector in a vulnerable position. The 2013 decree number 2196, issued by the Presidency, didn't take into account quotas for the imports of plantains as other countries, such as Spain, did," Palacio said.
The importation of products goes hand in hand with the smuggling of food and lack of border control. According to the guild, this latter issue has become a bottleneck for plantain producers, who don't have enough guarantees for the production and sale of their products.
Source: Contextoganadero.com