The Ecuadorian banana activity began during the 40's, becaming immediately an important axis for the Ecuadorian economy.   The national capital, labor force, and initiative in production and marketing areas have been used.

Actually 100 percent of the  Ecuadorian banana production is developed by Ecuadorians but  just 70 percent of whole output is marketed by national firms.

ECUADOR:  BANANA EXPORTS VS TOTAL EXPORTS  

Participation Percentage

Banano 16%    --->1,915,045
Total  ---->  11,936,850
Source: Ecuadorian Central Bank (BCE)
Prepared by the SICA-IBRD/MAG Project - Ecuador (www.sica.gov.ec)

Present participation of the banana sector 

The Ecuadorian external banana marketing have strongly contribute to the country's economy during 1997 with 35% of total exports.  The banana production contributed to the total GDP with 3 percent, and 16 percent to the agrarian GDP.

This agrarian sector is also considered   a very important direct/indirect labor force source as it benefits about 383,000 families; if each family is composed by 5 members, total benefited population is of 1'915,045 people, i.e. 12 percent of the  Ecuadorian population.

Ecuadorian individuals take care of the 100 percent of the  banana production, which has a diversify shape.  According to the  farm size, about 80 percent of banana producers and 36 percent of total area are located in 1- to-30 hectares farms; 17 percent of banana producers and 38 percent of total area are for 31-to-100 hectares farms; and 3 percent of banana producers and 26 percent of total area has more-than-100 hectares farms.

During last years banana producers have been improving the productivity levels.  The banana output in 1992 was of 26 MT/hectare on a 135,000 hectares area and 37 MT/hectare on a 127,000 hectares area for 1997.

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