Ecuadorian government applies strict measures against Panama Tropical Race 4 disease

Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a banana fruit’s deadliest disease which is spreading across Latin America. It is untreatable and remains undetected for years and spreads through contaminated plant material, soil, and water, and can lead to a 100% yield loss of Cavendish banana variety.

According to American media, Cavendish banana production accounts for 47% of world production. In 2019, 80% of world’s banana exports came from the Caribbean and Latin America. In Ecuador, the world’s main banana exporter, its trade value surpassed $3 billion in 2019.

In 2019, Colombia was the first Latin American country which reported TR4’s appearance, followed by Peru in April 2021.

As a result, Colombia and Peru declared a national emergency and swift action by entities and government institutions alike, promoting biosecurity protocols and infrastructure investment in Latin American countries.

Today, neighboring countries such as Ecuador are also on high alert for the disease. According to Juan José Pons, coordinator of the Ecuadorian Banana Cluster, while TR4 has not yet been detected in the country, the disease will not only have a negative impact on the banana sector but will also jeopardize the economic stability of Ecuador.

In Ecuador, those most at risk are the 5.000 smallholder farms who make up 30 percent of banana plantations. 

Such preventative measures as biosecurity protocols and appropriate agricultural practices involve training of all the workers involved in banana production. Pons explains that this has a significant economic impact as they need to use more resources than they planed to make an extra effort against the TR4.

The Ecuadorian government is applying strict measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease. They set up checkpoints at border crossing points, check every truck, sterilize containers and put stricter phytosanitary rules in place for the import of banana plant material.

Juan José Pons stated that all farmers should do everything possible to prevent TR4 from attacking banana crops.

source: foodtank.com

photo: banano.ebizor.ec