Around 4,500 hectares of banana plantations were destroyed in Colombia last week as a result of extremely strong winds in the north of the country, and their future now rests in the hands of the government. 

The winds came on the night of July 9 and affected producers around the Gulf of Aruba, close to the Panamanian border.

Colombian Banana Growers' Association (Augura) president Jamie Henrique Gallo told www.freshfruitportal.com the adverse weather caused a total loss of around five million boxes of fruit.

"In total it affected a big area of some 15,000 or 16,000 hectares of growing land, but it totally destroyed 4,500 hectares of banana plantations, and 1,000 hectares plantations belonging to small plantain producers," Gallo said.

"It also affected lots of people's homes - some of which are partially destroyed, some completely. Many roofs are broken - they've just been split in two. Lots of people have been greatly affected by this."

The strong winds hit this area of the country roughly every 10 years, and Gallo said no measures could be taken beforehand to limit the crop damage.

He also explained growers have requested financial assistance from the government in order to repair the damage caused by the storm.

"They are hoping that the government helps them with a long-term credit line so they can recuperate their plantations," Gallo said.

The growers are due to hear the government's response as to whether the support will be granted in two weeks, and Gallo said he was relatively optimistic it would be good news.

"There are a lot of people who will be without a job or livelihood if they cannot replant their plantations – they have no other option," he said.

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