Businessman Alvaro Noboa spoke once again today on the nonpayment of the banana box official price in Ecuador. In his remarks he mentioned some names of companies that would be disrespecting the price.
“I ask the Chief of State and Minister of Agriculture to send inspectors to Bonita, Del Monte, Chiquita, Dole that are large exporters, who I believe are paying the official price and I ask them also to send those same inspectors and make a call to Derby, Banafruit, Anti Don. Do it today and realize the price they are paying.”
Noboa said that the official price is $ 5.50 but there are still irregularities in complying with this provision made by the state as a result he warned of a possible collapse in the sector.
“A lot of exporters in the province of El Oro … openly, and no matter the decision of the Head of State, offer to pay for the fruit $ 2.00 or $ 2.50 (…) I said two weeks ago that in 10 weeks productions were going to fall, farms were going to close and we already see signs of it at this time. “
And every time there will be more cases and is irreversible. Once a plantation dies after 10 weeks due to an attack of sigatoka caused because of lack of fertilization, the only thing left is to fire employees and cause the largest national unemployment in the recent banana industry history.”
In addition he said “Ecuador is the one that leads banana industry in the world … We could easily influence on the price of bananas to save this industry and save the banana growers.” (FL)
