In the first semester of 2018, the banana, the country's flagship fruit, consolidated itself as the country's third most important agricultural export product. The main destinations were the markets of Belgium, the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
According to data provided by the Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta SA and SMITCO SA, in the first semester of 2018 the Caribbean region exported 16.3 million boxes of 20 kilograms (4.2% more than in the first semester of 2017). This significant increase was possible thanks to the entry of new production areas, the timely implementation of maintenance work on crops, and existing irrigation systems.
The Executive President of ASBAMA, Jose Francisco Zuñiga Cotes, highlighted the importance of this data. "Magdalena and La Guajira have more than 14 thousand hectares of bananas, generating approximately 51,267 jobs (12,778 direct ones and 38,489 indirect ones), and account for 32% of the exports of the national banana industry, which makes us an engine of the productive economy in this area."
It is important to highlight that this region produced 30.1 million 20-kg boxes in 2017 (4 million boxes more than in 2016) according to data from the DANE. The challenge for 2018 is to surpass these numbers, especially productivity, aiming to improve the levels of technification, fertilization, and good agricultural practices.
"Bananas continue to generate good news for Colombia and ASBAMA will continue to work to continue developing banana production in the departments of Magdalena and La Guajira. Our actions are aimed at motivating and encouraging the development of new banana crops, work on the management of projects, agreements, and alliances with national and international organizations. In addition, we manage the procurement of resources to continue providing technical assistance to banana producers in the region, and conduct other actions that favor the implementation of best practices, the conservation of natural resources and the technological development of the sector," concluded the Executive President of ASBAMA, Jose Francisco Zuñiga Cotes.