Fungus hits banana crops in Colombia

Panama disease outbreak comes as nation hopes to expand China exports

Colombia has declared a national emergency after confirming a fungus outbreak infecting bananas in the north of the country. It came at a tricky time for Colombia, as it works to diversify its export markets and eyes China as a key destination.

Originating in East Asia, the fusarium R4T fungus causes a blight known as Panama disease. After appearing in the Middle East and Africa in 2013, it has now made the leap to Latin America. It was found in six plantations across 175 hectares in the La Guajira department, a region bordering Venezuela, according to the Colombian Agricultural Institute, or ICA.