Determination of factors involved in the rejection of bananas (Musa acuminata) intended for international commercialization

Abstract

The banana agro-export sector in Ecuador provides millions of dollars in income for this concept, but with this development, a series of quality standards have been established that must be met to enter the export system. This has contributed to establishing good post-harvest production and management practices that guarantee the optimal production of bananas and plantains. The objective of this study was to determine the factors involved in the rejection of bananas (Musa acuminata) destined for international commercialization. The methodology considered the design modality of non-experimental transactional research, with a quantitative approach. The methodological design was developed in three phases at Finca 6 Hermanas located in the Barraganete sector of the San Juan parish in the Puebloviejo canton of the Los Ríos Province, Ecuador. The results highlight that the main causes for which banana rejection is generated are due to abiotic factors (damage, dry latex, scar, insect damage, broken neck, overgrowth) in a higher percentage of 79.55 % and biotic factors ( twins, diseases, short finger) by 20.45 %. The average rejection was 6 361 fingers and1 269 Kilograms (K) over the 6-week study duration. The analysis of variance turned out to be significant for variable 1 (biotic and abiotic). Ho is rejected; with the criterion of p-value < 0.0001 and F (9; 45) = 2.10., F = 13.17> F critic. In the case of variable (2) “work weeks”, Ho is accepted with the criteria obtained of p-value of 0.7694 and F (5; 45) = 2.4., As F = 0.51 < F critic, it is concludes, that with a significance level of 5% the null hypothesis is accepted. It is concluded that these figures lead to the elaboration of strategies that systemically mitigate the damages, by correcting each one of the causes that cause the deterioration of the banana and increasing the economic gains of the commercialization process.