Chinese-Owned Banana Plantations Fueling Exploitation in Myanmar
Resource ID
10954
Access
Open
Contributed by
admin
Other
Agriculture land contamination of water sources chemicals hygiene health COVID-19 pandemic
Date
23 November 21
Country
Myanmar, Laos
Summary
Taking into account the dire environmental and health hazards, the government of Laos imposed a ban on new plantations and contract extensions in 2017. However, this ban was rescinded in 2018 following a hit to the country’s exports, with the plantations being asked to implement better management and comply with local laws relating to the use of agricultural chemicals. Despite these superficial attempts at reform, a study carried out in 2021 by the International Water Management Institute and the National Agriculture and Forest Research Institute in Laos found chemical contamination in soil and water resources, arising from the banana plantations in the northern parts of the country, which has a hazardous impact on the environment and people’s health.
Source
The Irrawaddy