The Caribbean's account for three per cent of world trade in bananas, which are cultivated by small farmers and sold to the European Union (eu). However, not all the profits from the trade of Caribbean bananas go to small farmers. Fyffes, a Dublin-based mediator company dominating the uk market, has a finger in most of these banana pies.
Recently, the World Bank attacked the eu for its protectionism. The eu regulates banana import from the Indies, keeping the price tag intact so as not to impoverish the Caribbean farmers and compel them to produce cocaine instead. The latter possibility seems particularly strong, say ob-servers, as the West Indian plantations are situated between the drug-producing countries of Latin America and the us.
But observers feel that the effect of a rapid wind-down of the banana trade on the economy of the West Indies could be "devastating". In fact, if West Indian growers cannot keep their fruit deals with Europe, they would incur serious losses. This would amount to a breach of small farmers' rights. The crop produced by West Indies is expensive because of factors like difficult terrain, unsuitable soil and hurricane-ridden climate, which make cultivation harder than it is on the flat farmlands of Latin America.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.