Asia Insight: 7x20

Laos' Banana Boom

Laos is a small landlocked nation in Southeast Asia with a population of 6.5 million. Although 70% of the population of Laos still lives in rural villages, growing rice and raising livestock, a new affluence is being brought about by an increase of Chinese-run banana plantations. These have sprung up in response to a boost in demand for bananas in neighboring China, providing Laos workers with a ready source of income. However, behind this success, a darker reality lurks. In this episode of Asia Insight, we take a look at Laos’ Banana Boom.