<p>A record banana harvest has been reported in the Dominican Republic, reaching $250 million in exports. Dominican news website Hoy.com.do reported that the execution of a program of pathogen control for Black Sigatoka has led to increased yields. Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease caused by a fungal pathogen. If untreated, it can cause substantial fruit loss. It is commonly controlled using an integrated approach including fungicide applications and the removal of infected leaves.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">According to the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Ramon Rodriguez, bananas were the first crop to be exported from the country. In the report, he said that in 2013, key exports from the country recovered profitability.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Rodriguez attributed this success to the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina. The President's plan for sustainable agricultural development has been to strengthen food security, promote and expand agricultural exports, alleviate rural poverty and commit to reform and modernize public institutions.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://hoy.com.do/exportacion-de-banano-genero-unos-250-millones-de-dolares-en-el-2013/" target="_new"> Hoy.com.do </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
