As reported recently by Ecuadorian media, BanEcuador has announced an initial allocation of $50 million in microcredits to combat the Moko disease, the bacterial infection that affects banana and plantain crops. The maximum amount available per applicant is $150,000, with a maximum financing term of 36 months. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Committee for the Prevention of Moko and other diseases, which includes the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the Agency for Regulation and Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Control (Agrocalidad).

This credit line provides timely and direct financing to small and medium-sized producers to implement phytosanitary protocols and biosecurity measures, such as checkpoints, cleaning and disinfection stations, enclosures, and signage, on their farms and production units to counteract the potential presence of the disease.

Despite over 420,000 monitoring actions for Musaceae and an analysis of biosecurity measures compliance, only 11% of producers met the implementation in 2023, and as of 2024, only 2% in the provinces with the highest incidence of the disease.

according to the local press, the Moko disease is causing significant losses in Ecuador, estimated at $700,000 per week, affecting around 70,000 boxes of bananas. To address this, the government has created a scientific and financial committee. Danilo Palacios, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, emphasized that Moko should not cause undue concern if addressed responsibly, hence the formation of the Scientific Technical Committee for Moko control.

Financial assistance has been announced to tackle this disease. Paola Aguilar, acting general manager of BanEcuador, stated that credits up to $150,000 will be available, with a grace period of up to one year and an interest rate of 16%.

Patricio Almeida, executive director of Agrocalidad, highlighted that abandoned plantations with Moko will be intervened in. According to a study, only 11% of farms have biosecurity measures, underscoring the importance of financing prevention.

Los Ríos province has 70,000 hectares of banana plantations, of which 32,000 hectares are monitored. Preliminary results showed less than 8% of the inspected crops are infected, a decrease from less than 3% in 2023. Drone monitoring is also being conducted in the Manabí province, where approximately 2,500 hectares of plantain are affected.

Producers will receive early warning communications coordinated by the Secretariat for Risk Management to control the disease properly. This comprehensive approach aims to mitigate the impact of Moko disease on Ecuador’s vital agricultural sector.a