Agriculture and Environment: Commodities

Table of Facts: Bananas (Musa acuminata and M.x paradisiaca)

Production
Area Under Cultivation - 4.1 Million ha
Global Production - 67.5 Million MT
Average Productivity - 16,463 kg/ha
Producer Price - $116 per MT
Producer Production Value - $7,822 million

International Trade
Share of World Production - 21%
Exports - 14.2 million MT
Average Price - $303 per MT
Value - $4,306 Million

Principal Producing Countries/Blocs
(by weight)
India, Ecuador, Brazil, China, Philippines, Indonesia

Principal Exporting Countries/Blocs
Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Philippines, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama

Principal Importing Countries/Blocs
United States, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, China, Russia

Major Environmental Impacts

• Conversion of primary forests
• Soil erosion and degradation
• Agrochemical use
• Solid wastes
• Water use

Potential to Improve

• Good
• Organic, eco-label, and Fair Trade certification exist
• BMPs have been identified and are cost-effective to implement
• Large companies involved in reducing production impacts

Source: FAO 2002. All data for 2000.