[Economics] The approach of requesting support from Conaie is only from banana growers from El Oro, clarifies Fenabe, which respects but does not support the position

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Franklin Torres, president (e) of the National Federation of Banana Growers of Ecuador (Fenabe), assured that the union is apolitical.

Banana producers are in talks with the Ministry of Agriculture to face the crisis in the sector due to the effects felt by the market due to Russia's war against Ukraine, countries that are not only buyers of the fruit but also suppliers of inputs for Ecuador.

 

The proposal made last weekend by the Association of Banana Growers from Ourenses (ABO) to ask Leonidas Iza, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), that the requests of the small and medium banana producers, even carrying out a strike and joining the indefinite mobilizations that the indigenous movement will begin in June, does not represent the position of the producers at the national level.

This was clarified this Tuesday by Franklin Torres, president (e) of the National Federation of Banana Growers of Ecuador (Fenabe), who assured that the union respects the position of the ABO, headed by Segundo Solano, vice president of Fenabe, but respects that it does not supporting her.

 

“We respect their position, but we do not support it, our union is made up of independent associations and obviously if any of them have some form of political participation, we respect it,” explained Torres, who assured that Fenabe is an apolitical union, although he assured that this measure taken by the The banana plantations of El Oro in no way represent a division within the sector.

“That request is from a part of our sector, but not from the Federation. We are apolitical, we have no affiliation with any political group and our guidelines are unionized," said the leader, who assured that the union's mission is to defend the banana producing sector and they will continue to do so independently of any political faction.

Meanwhile, regarding the dialogues with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Bernardo Manzano, Torres acknowledged that there is progress, although he regretted that it is still "very long and slow."

 

Although he understood that they are newly appointed officials, he maintained that the banana emergency urgently warrants speeding up the steps so that the benefit reaches the banana producer.

Torres said that over the weekend Fenabe issued a statement in which the minister was asked for speed, and it was also recorded that they are working on an 18-point agenda together between banana growers and the Government, of which it is urgent that they be fulfilled at least minus six.

 

Among them is the control of the payment of the minimum support price, the correction of the ministerial agreement updating the FOB costs of the banana box, the moratorium of the debts requested for a period of one year of grace in capital and interest of the bank public and private, the immediate cancellation of all illegal planting permits.

In addition, he said that the announcement made by the MAG, last Friday, on the subsidy for small producers still does not have a clear proposal. "We need to clarify the figures, requirements and form of aid", are excluded in the statement.

 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that the first stage of the Emergent Plan was launched with the verification of the banana plantations affected by black sigatoka, in El Oro.

The State portfolio reported that the Vice Minister of Agricultural Productive Development, Eduardo Izaguirre, met with the small producers who will access economic compensation and the delivery of inputs.

“We assume a policy of rapprochement with small producers. Yesterday (May 23) I was together with the small banana growers of El Oro touring their farms to enroll them in the Emergent Banana Plan. With the leadership of Minister Manzano, we are going to strengthen the chain," Izaguirre said in a video on the MAG's social networks.

 

Link: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/planteamiento-de-pedir-apoyo-a-la-conaie-es-solo-de-bananeros-de-el-oro-aclara-la-fenabe-que-respeta-pero-no-apoya-la-posicion-nota/