The floods that have ravaged Tabasco this year have strongly impacted the state's banana production. The president of the National Council of the Banana Product System, Adrian Prats Leal, stated that the floods had affected more than 4,500 hectares, 4,000 hectares of which had total losses, which led to a 40% decrease in exports.
“It's been many years since we've had such a strong crisis. We were strongly hit by the weather conditions that affected the state 3 months ago and recently. That really hurt us as the plantations hadn't recovered. The banana production sector is almost on the verge of collapse. If the federal government does not help us with supplies, fertilizers, and single-digit rate credits, we'll have serious problems," he said.
He said that, even though it was still too early to establish financial losses, they could exceed 1,350 million pesos.
“Losses could be higher, but what producers need now is support to be able to move forward. Export conditions are also being affected, we have not stopped exporting but we have lowered the export volume. Let's hope 2020 ends quickly so we can start anew in 2021 and, with the help of the federal government, become once again the state's leading agricultural sector,” he stated.
The greatest losses have been registered in the plantations of Teapa, Tacotalpa, and part of the limits with Pichucalco, Chiapas, affecting nearly 400 producers, he added.
Source: elheraldodetabasco.com.mx