Among the 19 members of the National Association of Banana Producers (Aprobana), the Agricultural Cooperative Farm, El Triunfo Limitada, was the most affected.
There were damages in 14,689 plants, enough to fill 15 containers worth $89,235 dollars or more than two million lempiras.
El Triunfo, which is 45 years old and has 20 partners, has been covered by an insurance policy that will pay them $2 per plant, which will allow them to have money to invest in the renovation of the property, taking into account that the yield per hectare is 1,730 plants.
The cooperative sells export quality bananas to the Chiquita Honduras Limited Company and forecasts, before the rains, that they would produce 3,200 boxes per hectare.
"El Triunfo estimated 3,200 boxes per hectare, but now they will only produce 2,816 boxes per hectare," said Maynor Velasquez, the manager of Aprobana.
This farm and its partners indirectly employs nearly 80 people, which exemplifies how the banana is one of the biggest job creators. "The banana sector employs 1.3 people per hectare, while the palm sector only employs one person per 10 hectares," Velasquez said.
The second category fruit is marketed in Honduras because it doesn't comply with some export specifications. A box of bananas sold can be sold for 40 lempiras in the domestic market, which is insufficient to cover production costs.
Gumercindo Chavez, president of the Agricultural Cooperative El Triunfo Limitada, said the crops would recover slowly, as it would take the saplings of the fallen plants nine months to grow.
The cleaning work, which started on Sunday 5, will last 15 days and will be performed while part of the workers replant the crops and other people work in their usual assignments, such as harvesting the fruit, selecting it, washing it, and packing it.
Even though the members of El Triunfo have faced few events that could cause losses, Chavez is of the opinion that agricultural insurance is a good investment. "We've been paying insurance for almost nine years and it's been a very good investment because, now that we've lost part of our production, we'll get money from the insurance and we'll be able to manage the plantation, buy supplies, and pay our workers," he said.
Certifications
The agricultural activity took an important step in promoting certifications that guarantee producers are treated responsibly and that there is a better use of natural resources, among other benefits. Independent banana producers in the Atlantic Coast began the process to achieve Rainforest Alliance certifications and Global GAP in 1998.
The first seal assures buyers that the product they are purchasing has been grown and harvested using environmentally and socially responsible practices. The second seal certifies that producers comply with hygiene standards in food handling and staff.
"These certifications facilitate the process of exporting bananas, both to the United States and Europe," said Arnold Antunez, the coordinator of certifications in El Triunfo, one of the 13 cooperatives in Aprobana that has both certifications.
The challenge is that more independent producers obtain their certifications so that they can continue exporting their products.
