Zona Bananera banana producers hit by recurring windstorms

Strong winds have once again struck the Río Frío district in Zona Bananera, adding to the ongoing difficulties faced by local banana producers. The region is still recovering from previous windstorms that caused significant damage.

According to the Association of Banana Producers of Magdalena and La Guajira (Asbama), earlier wind events in August affected between 1,000 and 1,500 hectares of banana crops and harmed more than 250 small-scale producers. While an official balance of the most recent weekend winds has not yet been consolidated, the recurring nature of these gusts, which can exceed 30 kilometers per hour, continues to threaten the sector.

The crisis has led to legal action, with the Administrative Tribunal of Magdalena ordering the Mayor's Office of Zona Bananera to implement assistance measures for affected small producers following petitions from several cooperatives.