Join us for the upcoming World Banana Forum's webinar on Sustainable Water Management in Banana Producing Systems.

Thursday 19 February 2026, 15:00 - 17:00 CEST.

RECORDING

REPORT: English / Spanish

Banana production and trade are essential to global nutrition, food security, and rural employment, contributing significantly to export earnings and household income while sustaining the livelihoods of millions of people across the entire value chain.

Bananas are naturally water-demanding, and irrigation inefficiencies, whether through insufficient or excessive application, can reduce yield, fruit quality, and overall system performance, while also contributing to soil salinization and erosion in vulnerable areas. Practices such as uncontrolled flooding further exacerbate these impacts by causing excessive water withdrawals, runoff, and nutrient losses, increasing production costs and undermining long-term sustainability.

Post-harvest operations add further pressure, as washing tanks and flume systems in packing houses consume significant volumes of water. When poorly managed, these systems increase the water footprint and intensify competition for local water resources. Climate variability and extreme weather events further amplify these challenges, making sustainable water management an operational necessity.

Advances in irrigation engineering, sensor technologies and post-harvest water systems now offer more efficient and targeted approaches. Precision irrigation, fertigation, sensor-based scheduling, improved drainage, water-recirculation systems, and good agronomic practices help align water application with crop demand, reduce losses, and optimize water use in packing houses. Together, these innovations have the potential to strengthen water-use efficiency, enhance system resilience and support more sustainable and productive banana value chains.

To highlight these advances and promote good practices in sustainable water management, the World Banana Forum (WBF) Secretariat organizes the webinar on Sustainable Water Management in Banana Producing Systems.

Objectives

• Share practical experiences and challenges related to water use and management in banana production systems.
• Showcase innovative approaches, research advances and good practices to improve efficiency and resilience in water management.
• Strengthen collaboration among value chain actors to promote sustainable water management and long-term environmental sustainability.