Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

594 Les productions bananières / Bananas and food security – Session 3
résoudre les problèmes de la culture. Seuls 27 % des producteurs ont entendu parler des
décrets de mise sur le marché; 90 % voudraient en savoir plus sur le sujet. Quatre-vingt-sept
pour cent des producteurs pensent que leur produit a le potentiel et le besoin d’être inclus
dans un programme de décrets de mise sur le marché, et 92 % acceptent de participer à un
tel système s’il est mis en place; 89 % consentent à payer une contribution aux dépenses du
bureau de commercialisation.
Avant la mise en place d’un tel décret, les personnes engagées dans le secteur devraient
être informées des différentes possibilités que leur offre le système. L’éducation et l’information
aideront à réduire la résistance des gens au changement que représente un nouveau
système de commercialisation.
Abstract – Plantain is the second most economically important crop in Puerto Rico. Its
contribution amounts to US$48 million. Due to phytosanitary regulations, imports are not
allowed into the island. There are more than 2500 plantain farmers and they do not have
any structural organization. “Marketing orders” are one of the alternatives to organize the
sector. This kind of organization has been very successful in the United States since its
creation in 1937. A marketing order can be defined as an act made by legislation that
permits farmers to take control of the market influencing supply, demand, and product
prices. Once issued, a marketing order is binding on all handlers of the product in the area
covered. Their mandatory nature distinguishes marketing orders from other forms of group
action in marketing. Three broad categories of activities are undertaken under this act:
quality control, quantity control and market support.
In order to evaluate the plantain production system, the characteristics of the marketing
structure and the receptivity of growers to a marketing order system, a survey was
conducted. A sample of 233 farmers were interviewed and a sub-sample of 201 gave
production and prices information. The original sample was 252. The plantain growers
were located throughout the island. The farmers from the mountains used traditional
technology and the ones from the South coast used advanced agricultural practices.
Seventy percent of the growers were full time farmers. Annual gross income for these
farmers was US$23,319.00. Their major constraints were low prices at farm level, labor
scarcity, pests and expensive production inputs. Most of the growers (92.6%) agreed with
the establishment of a programme of planned planting dates to provide a steady flow and
to avoid overproduction periods. Seventy seven percent would allow plantation inspection
in the field to ensure product quality before harvest. Most (79.0%) of the farmers agreed to
finance a promotion programme and 82.0% would make an economic contribution for a
research programme to solve product problems. Only 27.0% of the producers had heard
about marketing orders; 90.0% would like to learn more about the topic. Eighty-seven
percent of producers believe that their product has the potential and necessity to be
included in a marketing order programme, 92.0% of the producers agreed to be part of a
marketing order system if it is established and 89.0% agreed to pay a fee for the marketing
office expenses.
Before establishment of any order, people involved in the sector should be informed about
the different alternatives they have within the system. Education and information will help
reduce resistance of the people to the change that a new marketing system represents.