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Plantain prices escalate as fungus affects production
The Black Sigatoka fungus which has been severely affecting production quality and quantity at plantain farms across the country has adversely effected the export of the crop, according to farmers.
The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is actively monitoring the situation and the current price hike is directly linked to the re-emergence of the Black Sigatoka fungus which has been severely affecting production quality and quantity at plantain farms across the country.
Various checks at retail business outlets in the city yesterday revealed that current prices range from $160 to $180 per pound for plantain, up from an average price of $120, six weeks ago.
Exporters have also indicated that the impact of the pest on the quality of the product is devastating and have significantly affected export volume.
According to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), areas around the country which are affected by the disease include parts of Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Seven, Eight, Ten and to a lesser extent in isolated areas of Regions Five and Six.
NAREI has also indicated that the disease has severely impacted the plantain industries of many other Caribbean countries and as a result, there is a “significant increase in demand for plantains from Guyana,” thus resulting in an increase in the Parika farm gate price and prices on the local market as well.
The Ministry of Agriculture said, recently, that tests sent to the United Kingdom last year to determine the presence of the disease, have confirmed that it is present in local plantain and banana plants.
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