In Colombia's Magdalena region, banana farmers are grappling with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme heat and erratic rainfall, which have escalated production costs and significantly reduced yields. The environmental stress on banana plants has heightened their vulnerability to diseases such as Fusarium TR4, a fungus that has been detected in over 25 countries and poses a serious threat to global banana production. Colombian regulations prohibit banana cultivation on affected lands for three decades.
A local farmer highlighted the dire consequences of the disease's potential spread, which could lead to widespread unemployment among farmworkers. Despite efforts to adapt, including the adoption of Fairtrade practices, financial challenges persist, exacerbated by the current climate crisis and inflation. The El Niño phenomenon has further intensified these challenges, damaging crops through increased heat and altered photosynthesis processes.
Unpredictable weather patterns have led to both flooding and severe droughts in the region, with some farms experiencing up to a 50% drop in production. Efforts to mitigate these impacts include the use of bamboo as wind barriers, the installation of water pumps, and the establishment of quarantine zones to protect against TR4. Additionally, farmers have adopted organic fertilization methods as part of a productivity improvement plan, resulting in a 32% increase in yields per hectare on participating farms.
Source: independent.co.uk