The Communities of the Banana Plantations and Development
The banana industry is practically the only option for the people living in the banana regions. Because of this lack of alternatives and opportunities, people become involved in the banana industry from very early on. Many youths who have not even completed high school enter into the banana industry as simple workers, as a result of economic problems, and continue to work in the banana plantations for the rest of their lives. The enormous profits generated by the banana industry do not translate into tax money and resources for the local governments. Thus there is minimal investment in basic infrastructure and most of the time basic public services such as health, education, transportation, and electricity are in critical condition. This reality translates into numerous concrete impacts and therefore, most of the banana municipalities in Costa Rica are among the least socially developed in the country.
Trapped without an Exit: The Psychological Asphyxia of Banana Workers >>
More than 100 years: An Inside Look at Banana “Development” >>
