EVALUACIÓN ECONÓMICA Y DE ENERGÍA DE LA PRÁCTICA "EMBOLSADO" EN PLÁTANO (Musa AAB SIMMONDS) EN EL DEPARTAMENTO DEL QUINDÍO-COLOMBIA.

In commercial plantations of plantain low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags impregnated with chlorpyrifos (insecticide) at 1%, are used as the main protection practice of fruits against pests that affect their appearance. There are not studies which provide data on economic effects caused by the plantain bagging technique in the Quindío region, reason why we conducted this descriptive analytical work, which quantifies the economic impact and energy balance generated with this practice. Bagging is an important item in the cost of maintenance of plantain crop: inputs (15%) and labor (14%), representing 13% of the total cost of maintenance/hectare of technified plantain. The benefit/ cost indicator of bagging plantain bunches does not represent a higher profit to the producer compared to not using the bagging system. Producers in the department of Quindío who carry out their putting on the market through intermediaries, do not have clear the function of the polyethylene bag treated or not treated with chlorpyrifos. This bagging practice requires 31,458 kcal in additional energy consumption in cultivation, which means that it takes more energy units to provide a dietary energy unit, equivalent to non bagged fruit. Bagging is not an essential activity in the agronomic management of the crop; it is a "fashionable" activity widespread in the above mentioned plantain area with a notorious environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]