Agriculture
As
in the majority
of Ecuadorian
provinces,
the principle
economic activity
is agriculture.
The terrain
is fertile
and apt for
a range of
different
agricultural
activities.
The principle
crops are:
cocoa, banana,
coffee, corn,
rice and cotton.
Melon, watermelon,
oranges, pineapples
and papaya
are also grown
here. Jipijapa,
Pajan, SantaAna,
24 de Mayo
and Junin
are the main
centres of
coffee cultivation.
Chone, Bolivar,
Junin are
the main cocoa
areas. Cotton
is grown in
Portoviejo
and Rocafuerte.
Coconuts are
grown from
the northern
coast of Manabi
to Cojimies.
Manabi is
the country’s
primary coffee
bean producer
(in terms
of area size
and production
rates).
Cattle
Manabi
has one of
the highest
bovine population
numbers. The
most important
cattle farming
zones are:
Chone,
Bolivar, Rocafuerte
and the north
of the canton
of Sucre .
Horses and
pigs are bred
in the entire
province.
The breeding
of poultry
is also extremely
important.
Industry
The
manufacturing
industry employes
the largest
number of
people in
the following
branches:
foodstuffs,
beverages
and tobacco,
including
the processing
of oils, fish,
pasta, cookies
and flour.
Other industries
include: chemical
products,
furniture
manufacturers,
textiles,
paper, graphics,
cement tubes
and mechanical
metals.
Forest
Resources
Manabi
has ample
forest resources.
Wood production
is important
and this is
mainly concentrated
in the interior
mountaineous
areas of the
province.
Artisan
Production
The
traditional
manufacturing
of straw hats
in Manabi
is known around
the world.
In the north
American market
they are known
as Panama
hats, although
they originate
in Ecuador
!
The
La Pila Ceramic
Artists
At
10km from
Montecristi
there is a
country house
known as La
Pila , which
is renowned
for its ceramics.
The talented
workers here
began copying
Pre-Colombian
pieces whose
artefacts
were discovered
in the province.
Thanks to
the support
of establishments
such as the
Central Bank,
it has been
possible to
fabricate
original works.
The results
have been
extraordinary;
the rebirth
of Pre-Colombian
ceramics has
certainly
taken off
in the area
and there
is increasing
demand for
the pieces
created here.
Manta
Port
Manta
has been defined
as one of
Ecuador ’s
principle
ports. In
1930 it received
permission
to construct
a disembarkation
point measuring
50 metres
. The present-day
port is the
result of
a civil and
patriotic
effort. On
20 th February
1959 an agreement
was signed
for further
construction
costing some
83 million
sucres. The
construction
was met with
various difficulties
until on 27
th July 1968
the money
was upped
to 150 million
sucres to
overcome such
problems.
Port
Traffic
Since
colonial times
Manta was
the main importation
point for
goods going
to and coming
from the south
due to its
privileged
location and
calm seas.
Today Manta
is a first-class
port with
modern equipment
for the onloading
and offloading
of cargo and
all installations
needed for
commercial
trafficking.
Nevertheless,
the port has
suffered a
decrease in
imports and
exports, partly
due to the
withdrawal
of maritime
company Coordinated
Caribbean
Transport
Inc. (CCT)
which previously
operated between
Manta and
Miami.
Last
Updated 21st
August 2006
(DLW)
