Are 60% of Global Banana Growing Areas Facing the Threat of Climate Change?

New Delhi, May 12 (NationPress) A recent report reveals that 60% of the prime banana cultivation regions worldwide are at risk due to rising temperatures.

“Climate change is devastating our crops,” stated Aurelia Pop Xo, a banana farmer in Guatemala.

Published on Monday by the global development charity Christian Aid, the report indicates that extreme climatic events, increasing temperatures, and climate-related pests threaten banana-producing areas, prompting demands for expedited emission reductions and enhanced support for farmers.

Currently, Latin America and the Caribbean contribute 80% of the world's banana exports, serving supermarkets across the globe.

However, the report warns that by 2080, 60% of the most suitable banana-growing areas in this region could be lost due to escalating temperatures and severe weather.

India is among the largest banana producers globally, yielding 29.7 million tonnes from an area of 0.88 million hectares, achieving a productivity rate of 37 MT/ha.

Despite occupying only 15.5% of the area, India’s contribution to global banana production stands at 25.58%, as per Indian experts.

For many, bananas are not just a delightful fruit but a vital component of their diet and essential for survival.

Indeed, it ranks as the fourth most important food crop worldwide, following wheat, rice, and maize.

Over 400 million people depend on bananas for 15% to 27% of their daily caloric intake.

The report, titled ‘Going Bananas: How Climate Change Threatens the World’s Favourite Fruit’, includes firsthand accounts from banana farmers collaborating with Christian Aid partner organizations.

Banana grower Aurelia, aged 53, expressed, “Climate change has destroyed our crops, resulting in no income as we cannot sell anything. My plantation is dying, and it feels like death.”

“We expected this to happen in the future, but it has come sooner because we are neglecting our planet and ecosystems. This is alarming for our children and grandchildren,” Aurelia emphasized.

Bananas thrive within a temperature range of 15-35 degrees Celsius but are sensitive to water scarcity. Storms cause significant damage, tearing leaves and hindering the crop's ability to photosynthesize.

Fungal infections, exacerbated by rising temperatures, are becoming increasingly problematic, with one disease, Fusarium Tropical Race 4, threatening entire plantations.

To combat this decline and safeguard the world’s prime banana-growing regions, Christian Aid is urging wealthier, polluting nations to urgently cut their carbon emissions.

The development agency also advocates for targeted international climate finance to assist banana growers and agricultural communities in adapting to the climate changes they have minimally caused.

Consumers can help by opting for Fairtrade products, ensuring that a greater share of profits goes to banana farmers. Additionally, seeking organic bananas can mitigate the excessive use of chemical fertilizers that significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, jeopardizing long-term ecosystem health.

Holly Woodward-Davey, Project Coordinator at Banana Link, which operates across the supply chain, remarked, “Banana growers face increasing uncertainties due to climate change. Water scarcity and rising temperatures result in lower yields, affecting rural incomes and creating hazardous working conditions for laborers exposed to extreme heat.

Moreover, heat stress makes banana plants more susceptible to diseases and infections. Without systemic changes, we risk witnessing the devastation caused by Fusarium Tropical Race 4, which targets plant roots and can lead to the complete destruction of farms and plantations.

This disease is now prevalent in key supplier countries for European supermarkets, including Colombia and Peru.