Banana Impact Report – 2019

More than 90% of all Fairtrade bananas consumed worldwide come from Latin America and the Caribbean. However, most banana production still depends on chemicals, which affects the microbiological balance of the soil and the wider environment. Consequently, this leads to lower yields, increased costs, and reduced effectiveness of traditional, non-chemical crop management.

To address this, CLAC (the Latin American and Caribbean Producer Network) designed and implemented a productivity improvement program (Programa de Incremento a la Productividad—PIP) in 2015 focused on improving agricultural practices at the farm and organizational level. Twenty small-scale banana producer organizations from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Dominican Republic and the Windward Islands participated.

The outcomes were very positive: soil health and fertility improved, with a 35% reduction of agrochemicals. In addition, the frequency of water of irrigation was reduced by 50%, which contributed to the reduction of producers’ water footprint.

Fairtrade Premiums have helped communities improve access to healthcare, housing, education, and other areas that have improved peoples’ lives. Investment in housing and public infrastructure has been strong among Fairtrade certified plantations in Urabá, Colombia. Corporación Rosalba Zapata Cardona, the Fairtrade Committee of the Bananas de Urabá plantation, has had a positive impact on nine out of every ten workers by building new housing and investing home improvements through its housing program.

Benigno Rivas works at Finca Madrigal, one the plantations of Bananeras de Urabá. His family is one of many who have benefitted from the program and have been able renovate their home.

“We feel better. These home improvements were only possible thanks to the investments by the Corporación. It has been a great support because we do not have the sort of money to undertake this kind of work,” shares Yadira Rivera, Benigno’s wife.

In addition to the housing program, the Corporación has invested in community facilities including a children’s playgrounds, recreational sports, and a center for the elderly. These community hubs are especially important for the children in the community to provide an after-school activity while their parents are working.