Climate change could wipe out the banana, world’s top fruit
Banana, world’s most popular fruit, faces an uncertain future due to the escalating climate crisis, warns a new report from international development charity Christian Aid. The report highlights how extreme weather, rising temperatures, and climate-driven pests are endangering banana-producing regions — prompting urgent calls for emission cuts and greater support for farmers.
For many, a banana is more than just a convenient snack — it is a vital part of the daily diet. Banana ranks as the fourth most important food crop globally, following wheat, rice and maize. More than 400 million people depend on it for 15-27 per cent of their daily caloric intake.
Titled ‘Going Bananas: How Climate Change Threatens the World’s Favourite Fruit’, the report includes first-hand accounts from banana growers working with the agency’s partner organisations. Currently, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 80 per cent of global banana exports. However, the report warns that by 2080, up to 60 per cent of the region’s most suitable banana-growing areas could become unsuitable due to extreme weather and rising temperatures.
Where India stands
India, world’s largest banana producer, ranks 12th in export, valued at $2.52 million. Tamil Nadu leads in cultivation area while Maharashtra boasts the highest productivity, largely due to its monoculture Cavendish plantations, high-density planting, and irrigation. India grows more than 20 banana varieties across diverse climates — from humid tropics to dry subtropics — making bananas a crucial component of the country’s agricultural landscape. These occupy about 20 per cent of the country’s cultivated land.
In 2022, India produced 31.3 million tonnes of banana — three times more than China at second place with 10.7 million tonnes. Other major producers include Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, Ecuador, the Philippines, Guatemala, Angola and Tanzania.
Most of India’s bananas are consumed domestically. Banana puree is used in dairy products, baked goods and baby food; plantains are turned into chips and even wine is made from the fruit. Banana is available all-year-round, affordable, and rich in nutrients. Its fibre is used to make bags, ropes and paper.
However, climate change is posing both immediate and long-term threats to India’s banana production. Extreme weather events, shifting monsoon patterns, and rising temperatures are disrupting cultivation. In Central India, including exporting state Maharashtra, extreme rainfall events have tripled since 1950, even as total annual rainfall has declined. One study warns that banana yield could fall significantly by 2050 without adaptation, threatening livelihoods in a country where 43 per cent of population depends on agriculture and 14 per cent is already undernourished (as of 2018).
Climate-related pests and diseases are compounding the problem. Panama disease and banana weevils are reducing yields, while higher temperatures are fuelling the spread of fungal infections like Fusarium Tropical Race 4, which can wipe out entire plantations.
While adaptation is possible, such as through drip irrigation and climate-resilient infrastructure, these solutions depend on the availability of water and broader investment. Banana requires a temperature range of 15-35°C to thrive and is highly sensitive to water stress. Storms damage leaves and impair photosynthesis, further reducing productivity.
Christian Aid urges richer, high-emission nations to rapidly cut carbon emissions and provide targeted international climate finance for banana farmers, who have contributed little to the crisis.
Securing the future
Consumers can help by choosing organic bananas, which ensure better pay for farmers and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers that harm ecosystems and emit greenhouse gases. Infrastructure improvements such as better storage and transportation can also boost market access, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, shifting toward more sustainable and organic farming practices may help secure a future for the humble banana in a warming world.
