Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Environment of Formosa, together with technical teams, participated in workshops to learn about the real impact that banana production had locally.
In this framework, the Ministry of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, analysed who were the major buyers and importers of banana in the country and who were the representatives of banana growers.
According to a meeting between the Strategic National Agrifood Project (EAP), the National Tropical Fruits Association, the Northeast and Northwest provinces, chambers of buyers of fruits, and the Association of Banana Growers from Salta, the banana is the most consumed fruit in Argentina; 12 kilos per person per year, and the total cultivated area is 3,780 hectares.
The producing provinces are Salta, with 2,140 acres, Formosa, 1,500 acres, Jujuy, 160 acres, and with Misiones 30 acres. Domestic production amounts to 84,000 tons. Salta produces more than 53,000 tons; Formosa between 22,000 and 26,000 tons; Jujuy, 4,000 tons, and Misiones 450 tons.
According to another meeting held in Buenos Aires, between the Ministry of Domestic Trade, the Provinces of Salta and Formosa, banana growers, importers and representatives of important markets, there is no problem buying the domestic banana as long as there is a plan for the markets and the buyers. This includes planning the amounts to be shipped, their continuity and the quality of their presentation in the supermarkets with the appropriate yellow ripe colour and without black spots.
The participants also agreed on setting limits on the import quotas when the local production is supplying markets.
The local production hasn't met the demand of the national market. However, the national market is able to pay local producers better prices that would increase their profitability and they would be able to increase their production and meet the market's demand, provided that the local banana complies with the conditions set by the markets.
Source: NeaRural