Banana exports have fallen by 9.2% during the first nine months of the year
This was announced by the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer) yesterday at the presentation of the performance of goods exports up to the third quarter of 2012.
This fall has had a strong impact on agricultural export data as a whole, which only shows a 2% growth during this period.
According to the Foreign Trade minister, Anabel González, this sharp fall in the fruit's exports has been caused mainly by unfavourable weather conditions.
The banana sector was severely affected by devastating rains and floods in areas such as Matina and Siquirres.
Pineapples taking over
Miguel Valverde, representative of the banana workers from the canton of PococĂ, said that while the weather has had an impact on banana exports, the key factor has been a reduction in the acreage.
According to Valverde, that reduction has mainly taken place due to the increase in pineapple production.
"There is a significant increase in pineapple production that is pushing us away; this has caused an overall decline in production."
Source: prensalibre
Source: prensalibre