The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) and the Association of Independent Banana Producers signed an agreement with the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) to protect banana and plantain crops from pests.
The agreement aims to prevent these crops from being affected by pests that have got out of control and have seriously threatened several countries in Asia, Africa, and Australia, stated MAGA.
Based on this agreement, the entities involved plan to carry out a series of simulations with the aim of strengthening quarantine processes and to quickly react to any indication of an outbreak that may be registered in Guatemala.
Guatemala produces more than 2.7 million metric tons of banana per year and the sector generates about 50 thousand jobs. In the first nine months of the year, banana exports generated almost 600 million dollars in foreign currency.
Last year banana and plantain sales totaled 781.58 million dollars.
Source: dca.gob.gt
