According to Luis Loor, the president of the Federation of Plantain Producers of Ecuador (Fenaprope), the price of the plantain from Manabi won't change.
Loor stated that they had met in Quito with representatives of the export sector, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAGAP), which acted as a mediator, to agree on the minimum reference price for a box of barraganete plantains for export.
The proposal of the plantain producers was to raise the current price, which stands at $7.30, to $8.86.
According to Loor, studies have determined that this is the current production cost of each box.
Meanwhile, the export sector wanted next year's price to stand at $5.60, Loor said.
After several hours of deliberation, the price remained the same, at $ 7.30, at least for one more year, said Loor.
Measures
Luis Loor said that Fenaprope had taken measures so that the producers could lower production costs.
He spoke about a subsidy on agricultural inputs, spraying equipment to combat the black sigatoka disease, good quality and economic covers for plantains, and fertilizers.
"Making them respect the agreed price is very difficult. What we need is to follow the law and have exporters sign contracts with farmers and associations," he added.
He said the Ecuadorian plantain had lost a lot of market abroad because the production from Central America arrived in fewer days to the United States.
Source: eldiario.ec