Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

60 Les productions bananières / Bananas and food security – Session 1
Banana production
The banana production in Ecuador is carried out in very diverse conditions regarding the
size of plantations, technological conditions of production, and yields. Tables 1 and 2
show the main figures of the structure of banana production. One of the most particular
aspects is the “democratic” character of production, as the large exportable volume is
divided among more than 4000 producers and thus the benefits generated have great
distribution. This situation contrasts with the existing one in Central America and
Colombia, where the exportable production is divided among transnational companies
and a small number of large producers.
In Ecuador, plantations are of three types based on the following considerations:
• High technology level: plantations with complete operating infrastructure, that
includes the optimal irrigation and drainage systems and structures, cableways for
internal transportation of the fruit and packing plants, properly designed and with all
necessary additives.
• Medium technology level: plantations that possess only some of the above-mentioned
infrastructure.
• Low technology level: plantations that perform furrow irrigation, do not have cableways,
have partially efficient drainage system, and small packing plants with limited
installations for fruit processing.
Problems and anticipated evolution
In 1998, the banana production in Ecuador suffered the natural impact of “El Niño”
phenomenon, which have caused the destruction of nearly 4000 ha of plantations and a
Table 1. Size distribution of banana plantations 1997.
Size (ha) No. of producers Total (ha)
1–10 2 272 15 600
11–30 1 538 29 500
>30 1 034 82 900
Source: Programa Nacional del Banano.
Table 2. Area under banana production and export figures (1990-1997).
Years Area (ha) Tons exported Value (,000 $US)
1990 87 187 2 188 498 476 938
1991 99 118 2 654 336 719 630
1992 134 504 2 511 131 683 376
1993 119 425 2 632 756 567 580
1994 124 414 3 307 624 708 369
1995 125 604 3 736 533 856 633
1996 127 143 3 842 442 973 016
1997 128 000 4 300 000 1 300 000
Source: Programa Nacional del Banano.