AGROTECHNICAL MANAGEMENT FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COST OF CONTROL OF BLACK SIGATOKA TO THE CULTIVATION OF BANANAS IN ECUADOR

Abstract

The banana cultivation is especially important for the economy of Ecuador. Black Sigatoka in bananas is a disease caused by a fungus, which attacks the foliate system. When Black Sigatoka is not adequately controlled, the plants could suffer serious damages for themselves and their growth. To analyze the cost necessary to Black Sigatoka control, we gathered information about the banana production and the number of times that fungicides were applied. In the present paper we study the efficiency of the banana production, once they were fumigated after an infection by this fungus. Here it is considered that more efficient is banana production, when bigger is this fruit production, smaller is the quantity of resources used and smaller are the unwanted consequences. To calculate such efficiency and shadow prices we applied a mathematical method designed by R. Färe and based on a distance and Linear Programming.