Impact of banana plantation on the socio-economic status and health of the laborers, and environment of Barangay Cabidianan, Nabunturan

Castro, H., Didato, F., Pascual, K, and M.N. Medina Assumption College of Nabunturan, Philippines 3rd Agri-Business Economics Conference, Apo View Hotel, Philippines, 13-14 July 2011

Introduction The promises of banana agriculture: • Banana as profitable agriculture • Solve poverty and global crisis • Change (uplift) the economic status (uplift) of its laborers • Environmental friendly and sustainable agriculture i l

The other side of the promises: • Profit is shared only to very few individuals/company • Social injustices • Worsening environmental condition • The poor is still poor poor, rich getting richer • Does not make any difference to the community and esp. to the environment

So, we asked this question: Which side is happening to our province?

Research questions: 1. What is the impact of banana plantation to the income of the laborers? Is there any change on their income when Barangay Cabidianan decided to wipe out (i.e.) some off its it coconutt and d rubber bb plantations l t ti giving way to banana plantations?

2. Is there any y health hazards experienced p by the laborers and nearby villagers? 3. Is there any environmental destruction caused by banana plantation?

Methodology •

Place and duration: Barangay Cabidianan, Cabidianan Nabunturan Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, Phil. From August 2010 – January 2011

• 1 1. 2. 3 3. 4. 5 5.

Methods: Conduct a preliminary survey Establish coordination with the barangay officials Slovin Interviews and photo-documentation Data analyses and interpretation (income (income, photos photos, and interviews)

Figure 1. 1 Municipal map of Nabunturan showing Barangay Cabidianan (Source: MPDC, Nabunturan with the assistance of UDP 2006)

Results Income Income status

No. of  Percentage  Daily  Daily  Increase/decr Income  laborers laborers  (N 343) (N=343) income in  income in income income in  in ease based on  ease based on difference difference  2003 2010 daily income  in 2003  in 2003 and  and 2010  ( (in Phil.  2010  peso)

Increased

73

21.28%

The same

223

65.01%

Decreased

47

12.53%

175‐200 200‐250 200

200

175‐200 150‐175

14‐25%

25‐50

0%

0

13‐14%

‐25

Table 1. Income status of the workers in Brgy. Cabidianan banana plantations based on the reference year from 2003-2010 Note: Average daily income, 200 pesos/ day ~4.44 Aus$ (45 pesos ~ 1 Aus$)

Health

Health condition

Number of workers  (N 343) (N=343) 285

Percentage (N=343)

3

.87%

Experienced skin  allergy

24

6.99%

Experienced itchiness

22

6.41%

Experienced asthma

9

2.62%

No health hazard is  experienced Experienced dengue

83.09%

Table 2. Health status of the plantation workers from 2003-2010

Figure 2. Laborers handling herbicide or pesticide without proper protective clothing (Left) and skin allergy at the back of a female worker (Right)

Environment

Figure 3. Blue bags dumped at a rubber plantation just in front of the banana plantation

Environment

Figure 4. Fi 4 Black-spots Bl k t in i a string t i beans b leaf l f usually ll ffound d att the nearby vegetation (usually seen during aerial and boom spraying)

Environment

Figure 5. Severely damaged culvert due to soil erosion within the banana plantation (along the provincial road)

Conclusion •does not uplift the socio-economic status of the (majority) laborers •only few benefited (esp. Land owners) •caused some serious diseases •loss loss of biodiversity •destroyed some infrastructure

Thank you! To God be the glory