Banana farmers in Hainan Province have been hit by a slump in
prices since as early as April.
This has occurred as the prices of almost all other primary
products, such as corn, pork and eggs, have surged.
The main culprit was believed to be a text message via mobile
phones, which spread a rumor that a virus similar to SARS was found
in a banana from the southern island, according to a China Central
Television report over the weekend.
Meng Xuru, director of a provincial office in charge of the
development of subtropical crops, said the message was not widely
spread in Hainan, but many people in some major cities, including
Beijing and Shanghai, have received it.
Meng said it was a heavy blow for farmers, as 85 percent of
Hainan's bananas are sold on the mainland market.
Besides linking the banana to Hainan, the malicious message was
widely sent in April, harvest season, Meng said.
A lot of bananas rotted on trees or in fields in Chengmai
County, a major banana supplier in Hainan, the CCTV report
said.
A female banana farmer surnamed Zhang said they could sell
bananas at more than two yuan (25 US cents) a kilogram last year.
This year they have cut the price to 0.2 yuan per kilogram.
Zhang said buyers are now scarce.
Zhang Xiyan, a scientist specializing in banana breeding, said
the message was nothing less than a rumor, as a plant virus is
totally different from an animal one. It's impossible that a flu
virus infecting people will contaminate bananas, he noted.
Local agricultural officials believe it is a conspiracy. The
provincial agricultural department has reported the case to the
provincial public security department.
He Bangqi, a spokesman for the public security department, said
one motive is that someone wanted to create havoc in society by
spreading the message.
Another reason may be that someone wanted banana prices to drop
and then cash in on fluctuations.
(Shanghai Daily June 4, 2007)
