It is believed that the Colombian production of bananas seen significant progress towards recovery by boosting exports of its products to South Korea and its main market, Europe, last year (2023). In this year’s edition, the sector will make use of the diverse places at an international levels to seek greater recognition and support for their shared responsibility for all the value chains, in addition to fighting the negative effects on climate change and Fusarium.

Dr. Emerson Aguirre Medina, President of the Colombian Banana Growers Association (Augura) The slight price increase for bananas last year was needed. “Today costs of manufacturing bananas to meet the standard of quality stipulated by standards for certification entails large investment costs, therefore it’s essential to keep raising prices until we can achieve acceptable costs.”

Aguirre Medina goes on to say, “That is why, as the Association We have repeatedly emphasized to buyers and consumers across every international situations that the demands made by consumers cannot be directed exclusively at the producers. Markets should share the responsibility for ensuring the sustainable of living wage for workers as well as sustainability of the environment during production. We actively participate in any scenario that requires us to are required to keep raising consciousness about this issue. And in all cases, it’s our position that sharing responsibility should be the objective goal and commitment from all parties within the chain in order to ensure that the banana industry is viable. It’s not only the Atlantic side where the banana producers are located, we already are planning to 2024, our participation in diverse fairs and conferences where we’ll continue to spark these discussions about the issue.”

The man says that surviving within a competitive market as the market for exports of bananas is a true revolution within the Colombian sector in terms of production, technology and the social aspects. “For several years the member companies of the Association were able to overcome this huge issue with the assistance from the Association. We are proud to say that all of our members are certified by the market and are committed toward production that is sustainable environmental and social sustainability. In conjunction with the largest union (Sintrainagro) We have signed the Colombian banana industry’s commitment to a dialogue between workers and social unions. The majority of employees are members of a union, which is a sign of the importance of coordinated work of the workers and employers to ensure that there is a fair balance in economic activities.”

Colombian bananas unaffected due to Panama Canal delays

“Our primary market is European Union, which together with the United Kingdom represents 82% of the total volume that is exported. The operation runs exclusively across the Atlantic which includes 16% of the exports that go towards the American market. It has the ports of entry in the East Coast, so the effects that the passage of the Canal is having hasn’t had a significant impact on our business,” states Aguirre Medina.

But it’s the changing climate that has the greatest impact significantly on the industry. “Climate changes is one of the factors which has impacted several fruit exporting nations, and the figures in 2023 are less than those in 2022. In Colombia there was an intense effect in the beginning of the semester, due to a long summer. However, it was eased due to a favorable weather pattern in this second term. The team continues to be active in our research center to enhance the efficiency of our infrastructure, and develop strategies to minimize the adverse impacts of the climate”.

It contains the Fusarium problem

The researcher says that this research is accomplished through lots of cooperation, and with research as an important area. It includes studies into the development of different varieties resistant against Fusarium TR4. “We must continue to conduct the research to in the direction of a plant which is likely to be resistant or less vulnerable to Fusarium TR4 as well as one which is acceptable to the market. For this purpose, we’re encouraging collaboration with some of the most prestigious institutions like EMBRAPA Brazil – CIRAD France and CIRAD France, among others. The appearance of Fusarium TR4 in Colombia in 2019 triggered the outbreak of a phytosanitary emergency the disease, for which we’d been training since the year 2015. With this bet early which we won, we managed to develop the necessary agreements with Colombia’s Colombian Agricultural Institute, ICA which is the most prestigious phytosanitary authority in Colombia working on essential biosecurity protocols needed to stop any further spread. Five years later on 53,000 hectares of land planted with export bananas, this disease only exists in about 300 hectares” says Aguirre Medina.

The CEO says Augura intends to push longer in 2024 to meet its targets. “We will keep working to improve all technical and technological aspects which will enable us to boost our productivity and efficiency in order to not just guarantee the supply of the existing market and expand into markets that are not yet established,” concludes Aguirre Medina.

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Dr. Emerson Aguirre Medina

Colombian Banana Growers Association

Email: Presidente@augura.com.co

Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies