From 9000 to 69 tons: lessons from the dramatic drop in Ecuadorian papaya exports

(Agraria.pe) Ecuadorian papaya, which in 2011 and 2012 reached exports of around 9,000 tons annually worth $5 million, has seen its figures plummet dramatically in recent years. In 2024, only 69 tons were exported, mainly to Peru, which represents an alarming drop for a tropical fruit that once sold at an average price of $2.5 per kilo, positioning itself as one of the most valued in the international market. What is the cause of this decline? According to Alex Bustos Guerra, president of Green Control LA, the main reason is the spread of the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-P), transmitted by aphids and other vectors. “PRSV-P has spread in the main papaya-producing areas of the country, severely affecting production,” he points out. The Hawaiian Solo Sunrise variety, which was the most important for export, has lost prominence due to the expansion of the virus. Currently, Ecuador is betting on the Mexican-origin Passion Red variety, a noticeably larger papaya—with an average weight of ...