Argentina imposes restrictions on Bolivian bananas
Chapare banana producers have denounced through Fides TV and Radio that the Argentine government has…Chapare banana producers have denounced through Fides TV and Radio that the Argentine government has imposed measures to restrict the importation of its products into the country, threatening Bolivian production.
Rilma Soria, representative, claims that the situation began after mid 2012 and deepened this year, preventing banana exports
"We have been holding meetings requiring Bolivian and Argentine authorities to give a solution to the problem," says Franz Molina , another representative .
They claim that the situation is alarming for small producers who are at risk of losing the investment of a whole year's work.
"A cluster is a year of work and unfortunately it is perishable fruit. We have a week to harvest and if you don't sell it, by the next week it's lost," said Miguel Flores, banana producer .
He reports that as a result of these restrictions, production would have to "flood" the domestic market.
"If there is a high volume, which is not exported, then it would flood the domestic market. This would be terrible as people are only used to eating their 5 a day, not 20 a day," he said.