Banana farmers in Latin America are advocating for better compensation as they face significant production declines due to extreme weather linked to the current super El Niño event. High winds in Colombia and heavy rainfall in Peru and Ecuador are already impacting yields, with forecasts indicating worsening drought conditions in the Dominican Republic.
The Fairtrade Foundation reports that previous El Niño cycles have led to substantial productivity losses across the region. As export earnings plummet, producers are urging international markets to adjust pricing to reflect true production costs and ensure the industry's sustainability.