Heavy rain, flooded fields and the spread of a damaging plant disease are putting growing pressure on Costa Rica’s banana farms, particularly in the Caribbean region. Some plantations have remained underwater for as long as 36 hours following recent downpours. The hardest-hit areas include Matina, Guácimo, Siquirres, Pococí, Limón, Talamanca, the Valle de la Estrella and Sarapiquí.
Between August 15 and 16, parts of Matina, Guácimo and Siquirres received up to 280 millimeters, or about 11 inches, of rain. That is more water in two days than a banana plantation normally needs during an entire month. Banana plants can withstand Costa Rica’s tropical weather, but their roots struggle when the soil stays waterlogged for too long. Even farms with good drainage can have problems when rain falls faster than the water can escape.
The effects may not appear immediately. Damage caused by excessive rain can take 10 to 12 weeks to show up as weaker plants, fewer leaves and a smaller number of export-quality bananas. The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), expects rainfall along the Caribbean coast to remain 10% to 15% above normal during the rest of 2026. Temperatures could also run between 0.5 and 1 degree Celsius, or 0.9 to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, above normal.
The combination of heat and moisture creates favorable conditions for black sigatoka, a fungal disease that attacks banana leaves. The leaves act like solar panels, helping the plant produce the energy needed to grow a healthy bunch of bananas. When black sigatoka damages too many leaves, the fruit may ripen too early and no longer meet the standards required for export.
Another concern is Moko, a bacterial disease that causes banana plants to wilt and lose their fruit. Floodwater can carry the bacteria from one part of a plantation to another. Erick Bolaños, director of technical assistance at the Corporación Bananera Nacional, known as Corbana, said producers are already seeing damage. However, he cautioned that it remains too early to predict a large drop in exports.
Banana exports were about 5% higher through June than during the same period in 2025. The second half of the year will determine whether the industry can maintain that growth. Weather-related problems extend beyond the plantations. Landslides and road closures can prevent workers from reaching farms and delay trucks carrying bananas to Caribbean ports. Route 32, the main highway between San José and Limón, is especially important for moving agricultural exports.
Flooding has also affected communities near banana-growing areas, with water entering homes and rivers rising close to populated areas. Some emergencies have required preventive evacuations and the opening of temporary shelters. Farmers are responding by clearing drainage channels, repairing or building small dikes and strengthening plants with additional nutrients. They are also removing infected leaves and applying treatments to control black sigatoka.
Corbana is coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and other government institutions. The organization has also been working on an emergency plan for banana farms facing unusually heavy rain. El Niño often creates contrasting weather conditions in Costa Rica. It tends to make the Pacific side drier while contributing to wetter conditions in parts of the Caribbean. For banana growers, either extreme can reduce production.
The immediate concern is not that Costa Rica will suddenly run out of bananas. The bigger risk is that continued rain will slowly weaken plants, increase disease and reduce the amount of fruit available for export later in the year.
