Introduction

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Nioka Abbott has been a banana farmer for 23 years in St Vincent, one of the Windward Islands, located in the Eastern Caribbean. As a member of the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) she has been involved in Fairtrade for the last 10 years and was one of the first female farmers involved in shipping Fairtrade bananas from St Vincent. Nioka used to grow bananas on 4.5 acres but since 2 acres were infected with moko, a bacterial disease that kills bananas, that land has been turned over to vegetables. Nioka is secretary of the St Vincent National Fairtrade Committee and chair of her local Fairtrade farmers’ group. This is Nioka’s second visit to the UK, having also supported Fairtrade Fortnight in 2001.

The Windwards banana industry

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Bananas have been crucial to the economic and social development of the Windward Islands for more than 50 years. Successive reforms to the EU banana regime introduced in 1993 have steadily eroded the protection traditionally given to the islands’ banana exports in recognition of their economic importance, resulting in a dramatic decline in the banana trade. Compounded by global oversupply and low UK retail prices, the islands’ share of the UK market has been eroded by large-scale, lower-cost producers from Latin America. This has resulted in falling production, reduced revenues, and an increase in unemployment and related social problems.

For St Vincent, banana production and export is the most important activity in the agricultural sector and contributes around a quarter of total export earnings. But between 1992 and 2008, annual export volumes fell from 56,000 tonnes to 9,300 tonnes, revenues crashed from US$40m to US$8m, and the number of banana farmers fell from 6,000 to 1,200. In total, the number of small-scale banana growers in the Windwards has fallen from 25,000 in 1992 to fewer than 4,000 today.

 

Commercial pressures increase

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In December 2009 the EU signed a deal which resolves the world's longest-running trade dispute, in which banana exporters in Latin America and other regions challenged the EU's preferential treatment of producers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific region.

The EU agreement to steadily cut tariffs on bananas supplied from Latin America is likely to lead to a cut in retail prices, increase competition in the banana market, and strengthen the position of Latin American exporters. Many Latin American bananas are grown on vast, flat, mechanised plantations where the low consumer price is borne by the workers: long hours, low wages, anti-trade union activity, poor health and safety standards, and intensive use of agrichemicals, harmful to workers and the environment.

Caribbean bananas, on the other hand, are grown on small, family farms using more environmentally friendly methods and fewer agrichemicals. But they have higher overall costs because of the hilly terrain, poor soil, low yields, and higher transport and labour costs. The EU deal includes a financial aid package but it is unclear to what extent this will help Windwards farmers. Renwick Rose, WINFA co-ordinator, said: ‘For the Windwards, this settlement is yet another disastrous blow against, not just the banana industry, but economic and social development in general…Lowering the tariffs means that Latin American exporters can market their bananas even more cheaply than us thereby forcing our producers out of business.’

Fairtrade for survival

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Of the remaining banana growers in the Windward Islands approximately 3,400 are members of the 48 Fairtrade groups located across the islands. With more than 85% of all bananas grown in the Windward Islands now Fairtrade certified, it is only access to Fairtrade markets that has enabled the Windward Islands industry to survive, while the additional Fairtrade premium money can be invested in diversification into other agricultural products and income generating schemes.

With the added threat of the new EU deal hanging over the growers, and in recognition of their unique social and economic value, it is now more important than ever for consumers to buy Fairtrade bananas from the Windward Islands and to urge their supermarkets to continue stocking them.

Fairtrade premium projects

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On top of the Fairtrade minimum price for every box of Fairtrade bananas it sells, WINFA receives an additional Fairtrade premium for business and community projects. These examples of recent projects illustrate the importance of Fairtrade to St Vincent:

Beyond bananas
The three islands have jointly invested in a new agro-tourism project called Montaque. They have bought and refurbished a small processing plant near the tourist destination of La Soufriere in St Vincent, where they can process their passion fruit, guava, mango and other fruit into jams, jellies, juices and chutneys. The long term vision is to develop a visitor destination and nature trail for tourists to learn about the history of the island’s agricultural produce and production methods, ending with a tour of the factory and opportunity to buy the produce. Products are already being sold in shops on the islands, and WINFA is currently talking with the St Vincent government about supplying fresh juices to 40 schools on the island – improving children’s nutrition and farmer livelihoods at the same time.

A school bus for St Vincent
Premiums have been invested in buying and running a new school bus allowing children from the north east of the island to attend school in the capital, Kingstown. Previously, the children were reliant on private vehicles which, because kids only pay half fare, often didn’t stop, leaving them stranded and often late for school. When not in use for school travel, the bus is available for private hire by tour companies (especially in the tourist high season), or for other community groups.

Supporting science education
Primary school children on the windward coast of St Vincent have a new, well equipped science lab, opened in 2008 and funded by Fairtrade premiums. It includes a laptop and projector, and a wide range of equipment from microscopes, globes, and weighing equipment, to chemistry sets and Bunsen burners.

Refurbishing a local school library
The government constructed a library at North Union School in St Vincent but it had few books in it. At the school’s request, the farmers have stock the library with useful books. They have also provided equipment such as photocopiers to schools in Georgetown.

Scholarships
The farmers currently provide seven scholarships to gifted children from St Vincent who have done well at 11+ but whose families struggle to cover the costs of attending grammar school. The bursaries cover additional expenses like science lab fees which schools charge extra for. All Fairtrade farmers are eligible to apply for their children or grandchildren.

Multipurpose Centre for St Vincent
The premium is funding a multipurpose centre providing equipment for young people to learn key skills such as carpentry, welding, plumbing, and electricity.

Improving farm standards
WINFA has continued to invest in supporting small-scale banana growers across the islands to meet the GLOBALGAP health and safety standards required to ensure bananas arrive in the UK in the very best condition. This involves upgrading packing stations, installing pit toilets and lunch rooms for workers, as well as training on all the standards and record keeping required. In St Vincent they have upgraded 50 farm packing sheds in the last year alone. It is essential for farmers to be certified as without it they can’t supply major UK retailers.


Support Caribbean farmers – buy Fairtrade Windward Islands bananas from ASDA, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Spar, Tesco, Waitrose, and Whole Foods Market.

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  Fairtrade Foundation January 2010