Cambodian banana exports dip 21% as industry blames climate change

According to the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Southeast Asian country exported approximately 290,000 metric tons of fresh bananas in 2023, a decrease of over 21% from the previous year. Industry insiders have reported that climate change had a significant impact on last year’s harvest and that lower yields, rather than a drop in consumer demand, were responsible for the decline in exports. Weather events such as El Niño led to a water deficit, causing a depletion in soil moisture levels and numerous pest issues, making the use of existing pesticides less efficient. Hun Lak, CEO of Longmate Agriculture Co. Ltd., which operates banana plantations and focuses on exports to China, told the Phnom Penh Post that consumer demand remained robust last year, with shipping costs being reasonable and market prices relatively good. According to Hun, climate change caused banana farmers, particularly those with large plantations, to face technical difficulties ...