The losses of the strong rainy season in Ecuador are still un-quantified but the forecast of farmers are more pessimistic than those from the official authorities. The Ministry of Agriculture considers total lost if no product is obtained of a plant.

The adviser, Simon Cañarte says that a plant could stay in a flood maximum 48 hours, after that time bananas are not apt to be exported. If more than 72 hours, bananas have to be thrown away. In fact, in the region of Guayas plantations were covered with water more than a week. In this case is a total lost and costs are estimated between 14,000 and 15,000 dollars. According to the government, 25,000 hectares are affected. However, Cañarte says is must be as much as 80,000 hectares.

“The government has been to slow to confront this emergency. If this continues, prices will go up and we have 50,000 farmers without a job”, Cañarte says.