Bananas
WINFA (Windward Islands Farmers Association)
The Windward Islands Farmers Association was set up in 1982 as an informal association of farmer groups to support the small-scale farmers. It was later established as a formal umbrella organization of farmer associations from all four Windward Islands in 1987. Banana is the major crop amongst the WINFA farmers. A 'banana desk' was established in 1992 to deal specifically with the issues of banana farming.
Due to their historical ties to Britain and France, the Windward Islands have enjoyed a favourable market for their bananas. With the arrival of the WTO, free trade and the growing dominance of the large scale US producers (from Latin America), the Windward island banana farmers are fighting to keep their preferential trade agreements with their 'colonial' partners intact.
In light of these developments WINFA has taken up an active advocacy role in defence of the banana farmers in the region. A 'Fair Trade' desk was established in 1997 to specifically deal with the issue of eroding prices for their banana crop - the small-scale farmers in the islands simply couldn't compete with the giants (Dole, Chiquita, Del Fyffes, Del Monte and Noboa).
WINFA is actively campaigning to promote the sale of 'Fair Trade' bananas from the Windward Islands, which are being sold in supermarkets in England and some European countries.
The Windward Islands usually refer to islands of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent.
For more information on WINFA please read the following PDF files:
[WINFA newsletter (November 2003)] (PDF file)
[WINFA newsletter (February 2003)] (PDF file)
[WINFA newsletter (April 2001)] (PDF file)
[WINFA on Food Security] (PDF file)
[WINFA on Gender Policy] (PDF file)
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