Peruvian banana district seeks funds in the wake of floods - FreshFruitPortal.com

Peruvian banana district seeks funds in the wake of floods

Featured Top Stories Most Read Top Stories
Peruvian banana district seeks funds in the wake of floods

Banana growers in the Peruvian district of Salitral are in need of around US$600,000 in recovery funding after floods wiped out several plantations in February.

United Banana Growers Association (BOS) sustainable agriculture specialist Pedro Quezada Valladolid, tells www.freshfruitportal.com the district was one of many banana areas in Piura hit by floods last month, while rice and coconut growers also suffered.

"It started with heavy rains in Ecuador which went into the Catamayo River in large quantities, flowing into the Poechos Dam in Peru; there were concerns about fractures and that the dam could collapse, so the authorities decided to let out water," he says.

"As a result the Chira river, which is connected to Poechos, overflowed and that water flooded farms with 50 hectares of organic banana export plantations affected.

"There are 120 farmers who have lost their vocations, their very livelihoods as a result."

He says around 20 hectares were completely lost due to water flooding farms for a prolonged period.

"The flooding brought dead sand with it and that affects the productivity of the soil, so we are looking for funds to help growers get production up and running again.

"For many of the small producers toĀ  recovery they mainly need to think about replanting costs for their businesses as they live on their farms, and they need help with fertilizers, and I think we'd be looking at around US$5,000 for your average farmer.

"Our exports have been cut in half. Before we would send 10 containers a week, but for the last three weeks we have been sending just five containers per week."

Pedro Quezada Valladolid says the funding will come from the association, the farmers themselves and outside forms of assistance.

He says the company's clients Discovery Organics in Canada, Brocini in France and Dole Europe have been supportive in this difficult time, and would like to thank them for their help.

www.freshfruitportal.com

Subscribe to our newsletter