The recent eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano in Montserrat may have caused little direct damage to banana plantations in Guadeloupe, but growers are reportedly deeply concerned about the after-effects, according to DOMactu.com.
Due to plantations being covered in ash, the management of the producers group declared that the bananas could not be sold until May, despite no study being conducted on their noxiousness.
This would entail the loss of 200,000 tonnes of bananas, at around €750 per tonne.
Jean-Marie Nomertin, of the CGTG trade union, has called it a scandal and has asked why the bananas were withdrawn before the health services could investigate, DOMactu.com reported.
The regional government is reportedly due to meet with producers on Friday, according to the head of the regional council, Victorin Lurel.
Affected producers should be eligible for so-called 'natural disaster' funds, an emergency kitty set up by the regional council in 2007 following the devastating effects of Hurricane Dean.
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