"The loss of share of the sector banana can encrypt her, and without fear of being wrong, by 30%"
Interview with Francisco Rodríguez, President of Asprocan, producers of bananas of Canary Islands
They participate in the fair with a stand that shows its commitment to Corporate Social responsibility
For three years we are engaged in various initiatives to have a product the most natural possible. To this end we have promoted initiatives to try to counter pests with natural products.
This stand to project this new initiative that we have put in place and to pass on to our consumers that we grow in crafts, healthy, and healthy way. Ultimately what we want is to provide our consumer a product with all the guarantees of quality as it is the banana in the Canary Islands.
How is the "artisan" technique which is used for their production?
We are trying to combat pests by natural predators, for example, insects that feed on these plagues, which remove all chemicals and act on the plague with natural products.
Tell us about Community aid and of the challenges facing the production and marketing of bananas...
This year, it crosses a situation very complicated and unprecedented in the history of the sector. In what refers to subsidies, the banana receives aid from the European Union through the POSEI, which arrive in the banana sector € 141 million. This amount has become inadequate because, from December 15 last year, the lowering of tariffs was activated. It's a considerable tariff reduction, since we are talking about 28 euros per tonne, which no doubt have an impact on the price. We found a completely distorted market to which we were accustomed. We are losing market share. In fact, at present, the loss share her can encrypt and without fear of being wrong, by 30%.
This situation is further exacerbated by the bilateral agreements promoted by the Government of Spain. That is why, although we have these subsidies, they are insufficient. Therefore we propose an increase in the financial part of the EU statement, while the Spanish Government transport aid so far today we do not have you have raised.
There has been an important step forward, since we will already have the option that we pick up within the framework of the Royal Decree of transport. For the moment, we take that principle with caution and precaution, since that agreement without financial statement, in the end not attends to the sector. Because ultimately, much Royal Decree which modify, is clear that, if there is no financial statement, you will not have effect.
To address this critical situation, what other initiatives have been undertaken to encourage its use?
In addition to the above, we have processed and it will be ready in a few days, the public information similar to a designation of origin, protected geographical indication. This initiative is very important for our industry.
In addition, we have launched initiatives in schools to recover the lost market. For example a pilot project, specifically at the end of last September in La Rioja, through which we intend to move all the experience of the crop to the school. We looked for the participation of the entire school community – parents, teachers and students - through a kind of interactive game in which those classes that reach a certain score, will be able to go to the Canary Islands and see live and live, how to grow. This is the best way to communicate what product is the one we have and how we do.
We also promote projects in other markets, as it is the case of Germany and Belgium. In this line we work with Icex and Proexca, and hope to put in place early next year.
