Latin American banana growers demand higher pay amid extreme weather

Banana producers in Latin America are demanding higher pay to help manage the consequences of the climate crisis, according to the Guardian. Farmers face significant drops in crop output caused by extreme weather conditions during the current super El Nino event. The ethical trade body Fairtrade Foundation stated that severe weather is already impacting agricultural production across several key regions. [1]

The Fairtrade Foundation reported that high winds have struck parts of Colombia, which is one of the main suppliers of bananas to the market in the United Kingdom. Droughts are also predicted to affect some regions of Colombia later this year. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has hit production in Peru and Ecuador. [1]

Latin America is a cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, are predominantly spoken. Banana plants feature broad leaves and reach heights of three to ten meters. In 2023, global banana production exceeded 139 million metric tons, with major production centered in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. [4][7]