The collapse of Ecuadorian papaya exports is not a market adjustment, but a health collapse. This is explained by Álex Bustos Guerra, general director of GreenControl-LA, who explains that the country went from 9,285 tons exported in 2011 to barely 200 kilos in 2024, a collapse directly linked to the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-P), which devastated the variety that dominated foreign trade, the Hawaiian Solo Sunrise.
© Green Control Left: Alex Bustos (left) in a field of Solo Sunrise papayas. Right: Passion Red papayas.
According to Alex Bustos, between 2000 and 2012, Ecuador maintained a stable export flow – between 3,000 and 5,000 tonnes per year – until it reached its historical maximum. But in 2013 the decline began, and by 2017 the volume had already dropped to 1,600 tonnes. A year later it fell to 194 tonnes and since then the fall has been irreversible.
“The reason is clear, Solo Sunrise represented 95% of papaya exports, but it was extremely susceptible to the virus. When the disease spread to the production areas of Santo Domingo, supply collapsed. There was no research, no timely reaction; the virus spread unchecked. »
© Green Control Passion Red Papayas
“With the practical disappearance of Solo Sunrise, growers have migrated to varieties more tolerant to the virus. The most widespread today is Mexican Passion Red, a large papaya – between 2.5 and 3 kg per fruit – which is mainly grown for the local market, because its weight and format do not meet export requirements. Although it is a hybrid without genetic resistance to PRSV-P, it can live with the disease with production cycles of 1.5 to 2 years. »
In contrast, the traditional variety Solo Sunrise produces fruits of around 600g, ideal for export, but its vulnerability to the virus has completely ended its commercial cultivation.
© Green Control Papayas SoloSunrise Samira.
The private sector is currently testing a new line, SoloSunrise Samira, a transgenic variant with viral insertions aimed at conferring resistance. The evaluations are still ongoing and could open up an alternative to obtain, in the future, a type of papaya more suitable for international markets.
“Bustos points out that, in addition to the lack of public and private research, there has been an abuse of chemical control, which has favored populations of resistant insect vectors. Insect vectors that no longer responded to insecticides were selected and the virus continued to progress. » Although Ecuador has strong institutions like Agrocalidad and INIAP, the expert emphasizes that, in this case, the reaction was late.
© Green ControlPapayas SoloSunrise Samira
When Ecuadorian papaya disappeared from the international supply, buyers immediately turned to other origins. At its peak, Peru was the top destination (24% in 2011 and 45% in 2012), followed by Belgium, the Netherlands and Colombia. Today, the few tonnes produced are destined almost exclusively for the Peruvian market by land.
For Mr. Bustos, the case of papaya should serve as a warning: “Ecuador lives on agro-exports. Without research, early warning and responsible management of agrochemicals, any crop can collapse. The only solution is to develop and evaluate resistant varieties. »
For more information:
Alex Bustos Guerra
GreenControl-LA
Ecuador
[email protected]
www.greencontrol-la.com
