Mexico: Plantain producers abandoned

Plantain producers from the Mexican town of La Esmalta, in Tuxtepec, are asking the federal, state and local governments to offer them support after the devastation of approximately 50 hectares, informed commissioner Aran Cruz.

He explained that at least 28 families which rely on the crop were affected. "As it is, we already have to sell cheap, and besides, the production every fifteen days stands at between 300 kilos and half a ton per hectare, so we will now sink further into recession."

"The three levels of government have taken everything away from this region's growers; nothing is left, not even the National Fund for Natural Disasters (Fonden) has stepped in to help us," he indicated.

"We require herbicides and fertilizers. We wish to recover our plantain crops, as we were already not earning much of an income before, but now we are deeper in debt and it is hard for us and our families to stay afloat," he said.

"We are not even benefiting from temporary employment or other programs. We are going through a bad moment for the development of our agriculture," he pointed out.

Source: Noticiasnet