Bananas are delicious, easy to eat, cheap and nutritious. It is now the most eaten fruit in Japan. But do you know how farmers and neighbors are treated?
The reason why the price of bananas does not change is black
The country where Japan imports the most bananas is the Philippines, which has an annual production of more than 6 million tons, of which about 800,000 tons are exported to Japan. Most of the bananas in Japan are from the Philippines.
Bananas haven't changed in price for decades. It seems strange that prices should have risen, but the transaction amount of bananas has not risen. Since oranges and apples are mainly domestic products, the prices are rising as prices rise, but the prices for bananas are almost constant. What this means is either simply because the farmer's salary remains low or because the company's salary level hasn't risen at all. In reality, banana farmers are only getting a cheap salary because they want to buy it from a company.
Banana health hazard
Another source of bananas is the health hazards of pesticides on farmers and those living in the area. In the Philippines, bananas are mass-produced as plantations for export to foreign countries, not for their own eating. In the aerial pesticide spraying performed here to prevent banana diseases, pesticides are also sprinkled in places different from plantations, which is called poisonous rain, and it is causing health damage to children. increase. Specific examples include skin diseases, kidney diseases, asthma and cough. Livestock have also died and their fields have been damaged. Companies do not compensate for anything.
Unfavorable contract terms for banana farmers
Why are banana farmers so cheap? In fact, in the Philippines, farmers working in banana plantations are now able to own their own land, and many plantations have banana prices determined by contracts with companies. In other words, the banana farmer is an independent farmer, and just as the delivery staff is contracted to Uber on favorable terms at Uber Suites, the banana farmer is also contracted to the company on favorable terms. It is. As a company, it was more convenient for me to work as an independent banana farmer than to have them grow bananas as employees.
The transaction amount of bananas is 100% decided by the company, not the producer, and there is no room for negotiation. Once the price is decided, the contract period will be very long, 15 to 30 years. In addition, companies have the right to automatically renew their contracts, which will keep the initial purchase amount unchanged for at least 30 years at the same amount. From this contract money, disease and pest control costs, processing costs, material costs, etc. are deducted, and if the banana is damaged during export and returned from a Japanese port, the producer will pay the cost. It is a very disadvantageous contract to bear.
The reason for making such a disadvantageous contract is that you can not eat as a banana farmer unless you sign a contract, and the other is that the contract is in English and the banana farmers are not well educated. Sometimes I couldn't understand the details of the contract. By taking advantage of this, companies are making contracts pay in advance for several years, and banana farmers are stuck in poverty because of this contract. Even pesticides and fertilizers have to be bought from companies designated by the company and are thoroughly exploited.
Banana farmers in extreme poverty help their children to hire fewer people. As a result, this very unfavorable contract will be passed on to children.