Representatives of 17 organizations of small and medium producers of bananas in El Oro and Guayas, grouped in the Banana Economic Integration Network for Life (Banavid), have asked for controls so that the exporters comply with the purchase of 15% of the total exported weekly quota to producers of up to 30 hectares.
Pedro Vasquez, leader of Banavid, recalled that this commitment existed since December with the benefit of reducing the price of a box of bananas from $6.55 to $6.16. The Minister of Agriculture, Javier Ponce, approved the commitment. Producer Gustavo Novillo noted that the exporters should buy at least 900,000 boxes of bananas in El Oro. According to Assemblyman, Montgomery Sanchez (photo), the agreement does not conform to the Law to Promote Production and Marketing of Bananas and its Regulations.
He stressed that the banana sector had accepted the reduction of price on a box of bananas because they were aware that the world economy was depressed by external factors, especially in those countries buying the fruit.
Sanchez said the agreement stated that producers of up to 30 hectares would be paid the minimum support price of $6.16 but that the producers with more than 30 hectares had the possibility of negotiating with the exporters. He said the law made no such distinction and that it required all producers, regardless of their acreage, to be paid the official price per box.
Source: eltelegrafo.com.ec