Ecuador's banana and plantain sector has raised the alarm due to the appearance of new outbreaks of moko. This bacterial disease has been present in Ecuador for more than a decade and is now affecting some 3,000 hectares in different areas of the country. The province of Los Ríos alone has 2,600 hectares affected, according to sector associations.
According to the Agricultural Surface and Production Survey of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), Ecuador had 310,268 hectares of banana and plantain crops in 2024.
Despite the extent of the outbreaks, there is still no economic estimate of the losses caused by this bacterium. José Antonio Hidalgo, executive director of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), stated that exports have not been affected to date.
In response to the situation, the sector has launched prevention initiatives, such as early warnings and training. In the last three months, the sector identified that 18% of the farms in the province of Guayas share personnel, and that 7 out of 10 producers do not know what moko is. To change this, biosafety kits have been distributed, and training sessions have been held.
In addition, the National Moko Committee holds monthly meetings. It has already held eight sessions in provinces such as Manabí, Santo Domingo, El Oro, and Guayas.
The situation in the banana sector has different nuances. According to Eduardo Manrique, executive director of the Association of Plantain Exporters of Ecuador (Asoexpla), exports experienced a 3% drop in the last quarter. This drop, however, was not necessarily due to moko. He agrees that some 3,000 hectares have been affected, but warns that the lack of technology and industrial infrastructure prevents an accurate assessment of the impact.
Manrique explained that, unlike bananas, which have a consolidated agro-industrial system, plantains are marketed in three presentations: Fresh, processed, and frozen. In addition, 70% of the green and ripe plantain is consumed in the domestic market, while the surplus is exported. Recent weather conditions, such as cold, wind, and flooding, have also influenced the shortage, favoring other markets in the region. "There is no plantain because of high domestic consumption, demand, weather, and flooding. Moko has been in Ecuador for a decade," he stressed.
In addition, more and more producers are changing their plantain crops for cocoa, encouraged by the good prices of this product, adding pressure to the plantain sector.
Asoexpla is considering revising the current Banana Law, which prohibits new banana plantations for export purposes. The association considers it urgent to promote technical and sustainable plantations to avoid further losses.
AEBE has announced that, in August, the sector will start to conduct phytosanitary diagnostic tours on plantain farms, with field inspections, rapid tests, and containment strategies.
Source: expreso.ec
