Ecuador: 8,000+ hectares of bananas lost

Recent heavy rains in Ecuador have caused significant damage to crops, affecting around 4,300 growers and resulting in the loss of approximately 12,853 hectares of farmland. Rice plantations have been hit the hardest, with over 6,200 hectares completely destroyed, translating to potential nationwide losses of up to 30,000 hectares. Banana and plantain crops have also suffered substantial damage, with over 1,800 hectares lost. The majority of the affected farmers are located in Guayas province, where the rains have led to widespread flooding, with more than 7,300 hectares being affected in this region alone.