Workers Pick Bananas for Pay Of Just 2.25 Each Day In Africa

Jan Nimmos photos

Scottish film-maker Jan Nimmo has shot footage of banana workers in Cameroon. The documentary reveals pickers are paid just £2.25 each day.

The Glasgow artist says her short film, Portraits From Cameroon, exposes the human cost of cheap bananas grown in Africa for the European market.

Jan Nimmo has shot footage in the plantations in Africa and says the workers are being used by UK stores in a banana price war.

One of the most shocking moments she witnessed while filming in Cameroon was heavily pregnant women being exposed to chemicals while they worked.

She said: “The women were unfolding blue bags which are used to protect bananas from pests. The bags are coated with a chemical called chlorpyrifos which can cause numbness, weight loss, birth defects, loss of libido, respiratory problems and suicidal thoughts.”

To read more on the documention CLICK below for story, or better yet Click on next LINK to 

view the Jan's film log.

Scots film-maker exposes plight of African plantation workers earning pittance picking fruit for UK supermarkets - Daily Record

 "To see Jan’s film, log on to www.jannimmo.com/Cameroon.html"

Jan's Log

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Bananas Becoming a Critically Important Food

A new report says climate change could lead to bananas becoming a critically important food for millions of the world's inhabitants. 

The report, which is the result of research carried out by CGIAR agricultural partnership, says that, in the event of certain climate change models becoming reality, bananas may replace potatoes in some developiong nations. 

Cassava and cowpea would also play an increasingly important role if temperatures continue to rise. 

The report predicts that the world's three biggest crops (in terms of calorie provision) will decrease in developing countries and that the potato, which flourishes in cooler climates, will also suffer decline in cultivation. 

The authors argue that these changes "could provide an opening for cultivating certain varieties of bananas" at higher altitudes, even in those places that currently grow potatoes.

Dr Philip Thornton, who is one of the authors, says that, whilst bananas have limitations, they may prove to be a potato substitute in some areas.

"It's not necessarily a silver bullet but there may be places where as temperatures increase, bananas might be one option that small holders could start to look at."
Cassava Cassava could help meet food needs in South Asia

The challenge, as the report sees it, will be in persuading consumers to switch diets and growers to adapt.

Source: bbc.co.uk/news