Ecuador bananas

Ecuador's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries (Magap) plans to reduce the total area given to banana plantations by 15,000-20,000ha this year, according to a report by Quito-based El Telegrafo.

In January 2011 Ecuador had 230,000ha of bananas, of which 60,000ha was not registered with authorities, who are now keen to take greater control supply and improve quality by clamping down on illegal production.

Magap co-ordinator Carlos Vélez said: 'The banana sector cannot support more hectares of fruit, so the measure is to control illegal plantations or increases in cultivated hectares.'

Julio Cruz, president of the Association of Producers of Los Chirijos de Mariscal Sucre, welcomed the move.

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