Lower production has weighed on fruit exports

 

 

 

According to UNPAPA the country has lost about 24,000 hectares of melons, watermelons, pineapples and bananas. For 3 of these fruits, the 2016 exports recorded value performances that were markedly lower than those of the previous year. Only watermelon exports were better in 2016 but the year 2015 was a bad year.

 

 

 

This overall decline in exports is a direct consequence of the decline in production. UNPAPA reveals that melons and watermelons covered only 500 hectares when they totaled 9,000 hectares a few years ago. Bananas are experiencing the same problem, 4 000 hectares currently against 18 000 hectares.