Ecuador is the world’s leading exporter of bananas, with 37 million boxes in 2020. However, human and labor rights violations, chemical contamination and the destruction of ecosystems contrast with the economic success of this agribusiness. See the full report in El Salto (Spain).
Luis, 20, a banana worker, prepares a banana cluster for the weekly crop.
Don Nacario, 45 years old. He has worked in the banana plantations in the province of El Oro since he was 15 years old. Now he works permanently on an organic banana farm of about 8 hectares, where he earns 25 dollars a day. Once a week, the harvest is packed into 300 to 400 boxes ready to be placed in supermarkets in the United States and Europe. For each box, the farm owner is paid US$10.5.
A cargo bicycle in Machala, the banana capital of the world. Every morning, workers ride several kilometers and work in exchange for a few bunches of bananas that they transport in these baskets.
Banana workers, after the weekly harvest, prepare the stems of banana bunches and eat oranges.
Rejections of bananas destined for non-compliance with export standards to Europe and the United States.
A spray plane over a banana plantation.
Don Nacario, 45 years old. He has worked in the banana plantations in the province of El Oro since he was 15 years old. Now he works permanently on an organic banana farm of about 8 hectares, where he earns 25 dollars a day. Once a week, the harvest is packed into 300 to 400 boxes ready to be placed in supermarkets in the United States and Europe. For each box, the farm owner is paid US$10.5.
Don Nacario, 45 years old. He has worked in the banana plantations in the province of El Oro since he was 15 years old. Now he works permanently on an organic banana farm of about 8 hectares, where he earns 25 dollars a day. Once a week, the harvest is packed into 300 to 400 boxes ready to be placed in supermarkets in the United States and Europe. For each box, the farm owner is paid US$10.5.
Luis prepares the plastic that protects the banana clusters for the crop.
A banana worker prepares the field for the weekly crop.
A banana plantation near Machala.
The banana production triangle near Machala is the largest banana producing region in the world.
A banana plantation near Machala.
Restrooms of a gas station located in the banana production triangle near Machala.
