Elisandre from Peru

Growing bananas with the planet in mind

According to The World Bank, agriculture accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawals globally. But how much of this water is going to waste? For banana farmers like Elisandre, about 30% of the water used on his plantation is washed away.  

As Vice President of the Fairtrade APPBOSA cooperative based in Peru, Elisandre is contributing to their mission of applying organic practices to their high quality fruit. With environmental responsibility as one of their core values, the banana cooperative has made important investments to combat climate change.

“Thanks to the Fairtrade premium, the cooperative has been able to invest in a new water supply system. This is important because climate change will reduce water in a few years’ time. This new system gives hope for the future.”

While 30% of Elisandre’s water still gets washed away, the run-off is now able to be collected and used for the bananas, ensuring a limited amount of water goes to waste. Plus, this new system improves productivity by cutting the amount of time it takes to water the crops in half!

Benefits of reusing water in agriculture

1. It saves resources: As populations continue to grow, reusing water saves resources while bettering the health of wetlands and habitats that need the water as well.
2. It reduces pollution: Reusing water helps to reduce pollution by eliminating the potential for run-off to pick up polluted sediment, bacteria, and chemicals as it makes its way to larger sensitive bodies of water.
3. It’s cost-effective: Reusing water can help save money over time as the costs and energy associated with pumping the water will decrease.