Organic banana exports grew by 20% in the Valley of Chira, province of Sullana, region of Piura, Peru, compared to the first quarter of 2013.
This was reported by the president of Piura's Organic Banana Central (Cepibo), Hilario Silupú Juárez, who explained that up to 18 weekly containers of fruit produced by 1,500 associates in 550 hectares are currently exported to European countries like France, Italy and Germany.
"This increase is the result of the technical assistance provided by Cebipo to the producer associations, mainly through training in marketing and social assistance, tackling pests such as red spot, and making use of gravity-fed irrigation," stated Silupú Juárez.
He explained that small producers have entered a contest organised by Piura's Regional Government and the municipality of Sullana, the winners of which will receive forty wells to be installed at the packing plants.
"This could be beneficial to our associates, making them more competitive, as costs could be levelled, and consequently the price for a banana box, which currently stands at 5.5 dollars, could be pushed up," he concluded.
Source: diariocorreo.pe