Dominican Republic produces 350,000 boxes of bananas each week

Banana production is business as usual in the Dominican Republic. Around 350 000 cases are shipped weekly for export and are selling at a good price.

This latest statement comes from president of the Dominican Association of Banana Producers (Adobanano), Salvador Estévez, who said that despite difficulties facing the sector which are influencing production costs, the sales that they are achieving are not causing losses.

In the first half of 2011, agriculture grew by 7.1%, supported mainly by the dynamism exhibited by this agricultural sub-sector, which showed an expansion of 9.4% according to Central Bank data. In terms of banana production, this was actually a decreased growth, since in the first six months of 2010 this area of ​​the economy grew by 22.8% and in the same period this year, growth was 20.5%, reflecting a difference of 2.3 percentage points.

"Sales are very good for the Dominican producer and they are selling everything they are producing at a good price. The price of exports is still a little depressed but not below production costs," he said.

He said that the roads that lead to the banana farms are in deteriorating conditions, but that has not become a factor leading to a decline in production.

However, he expressed more than losses at this time, the producers are earning less due to the increase in fuel costs, fertilizer and other products used in the field.

Among the difficulties affecting the banana industry today particularly at some plantations, is Black Sigatoka, a leaf spot disease which is affecting producers economically. Plants with leaves damaged by the disease may have up to 50% lower yield of fruit, but producers say they are resolving the issue.

Export
The Dominican Republic recorded exports of bananas valued at US$ 110 million in 2009 and by 2010 that figure increased by more than $44 million to US$ 154.7 million.

The Central Bank also notes that the added value from this economic activity showed an expansion of 12.2%, due to increased production of items such as tomatoes, 20.6; carrot, 152.1%; beet, 27.9%; cucumber, 11.0%; banana, 20.5%; taro, 13.2%; potatoes 2.3%; beans, 0.8%, and yam 0.4%.

Hurricanes - a benefit
The president of the Dominican Association of Banana Producers (Adobanano), Salvador Estevez said that so far the hurricane season has not damaged the production and instead the majority of producers have actually benefited from the rains which are a by-product of the natural phenomenon that have hit the Dominican Republic.

The rains have brought them to my pockets improvement reduces the cost because he has avoided having to buy as much diesel to irrigate the land, says Estevez, who said he hoped in God that the rest of the hurricane season would not bring more serious damage.

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