According to a paper presented by the farm ministry (Sag) at an agricultural round table in Honduras earlier this month, plantain has tremendous unrealised potential on export markets, especially in the US and Central America in the first instance, but also further afield in Europe.
Sag wants to see associations between plantain producers strengthened and is setting up a strategic action plan to help realised these aims.
The principal goal is to achieve economies of scale in production, processing and marketing plantains and plantain products, according to a report in national daily La Prensa.
The ministry identifies the main challenges facing the sector as a need to bring it up to date in terms of technology, to incorporate new plantations and to invest in irrigation. Production is highly concentrated in specific geographical areas of Honduras making the realisation of Sag's aims a viable option, according to the report.
Plantains have always figured some way behind bananas in Honduras's export portfolio and generates some 3.4 per cent of GDP compared to banana's 12 per cent.
Citrus, pineapple and melon exports are all growing in importance as export options.
No comments yet