Ecuadorian Littoral Musaceae Producers’ Typification Based on Their Production Systems, Agronomic Management, Biosecurity Measures, and Risk Level Against Foc TR4

Musaceae represent one of the main crops of economic and food importance worldwide. In Ecuador, the production and export of bananas, plantains, and abaca are fundamental pillars of the national economy. However, the presence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) in neighbouring countries increases the risk to production systems. In this study, information was collected through simple random probability sampling, using a semi-structured survey that included sociodemographic information, crop characteristics, phytosanitary problems, agronomic management practices, and biosecurity measures. To differentiate the profile of producers, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was performed, followed by a hierarchical cluster analysis to establish their types. Additionally, a vulnerability index—Iv (low, medium, high, and critical—is proposed, considering variables such as geographic location, cultivar diversity, and producer management. Among the producers surveyed, 83.3% were men and 16.7% were women; 64% identified as Mestizo, 31% as Montubio, and 1.7% as Afro-Ecuadorian. At the time of the interview, only 38.5% used some biosecurity measures on their farms. Multivariate analyses identified six groups of producers with distinct characteristics, including ethnicity, location, crop type, phytosanitary issues, and adoption of biosecurity measures. Iv ranged from −0.60 to 3.20, with an average of 0.59. Producer groups 1 to 3 presented low to medium vulnerability, while groups 4 to 6 exhibited critical levels. These results demonstrate the diversity of production systems and profiles of Musaceae producers in Ecuador, as well as the need to strengthen biosecurity measures and phytosanitary management to reduce vulnerability to threats such as Foc TR4.