Colombians roundly rejected a political party founded by former FARC insurgents in the recent presidential election. The Common Alternative Revolutionary Force (Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común), formed in 2017, went to the ballet box for the first time since the peace treaty was signed with the Government on November 24, 2016. Former rebels turned politicians hoped to win a popular mandate but polled less than one per cent, the voters providing a clear message that they were in no mood to forgive those who had terrorised the country for more than 50 years, killing more than 220,000 during the conflict and displacing more than seven million. These are the official figures; the actuals are probably much higher.

FARC was formed during the Cold War period as a Communist force to promote anti-imperialism and particularly agrarianism, a political philosophy that values rural society above urban society. It sees the independent farmer and farming as the ideal way of life but, ironically, in the decades of struggle, the guerrillas ruined most of the small farmers it was set up to value. But FARC was not alone. There was also the EPL, the Popular Liberation Army (Ejército Popular de Liberación), ELN, the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) and M-19, the 19th of April Movement. In the decades-long struggle the land was fought over many times, devastating the lives and livelihood of small farmers and their families.

Ask a farmer about his year and he will tell you he’s had a bad one but ‘next year will be better’. Stoicism is their trademark. Although used to dealing with disasters - too much heat, too little rain, a fall in the market price - few have had to cope with the problems the banana farmers of Colombia faced. For decades during the civil war insurgents took over their properties, made themselves at home, slept on their beds, cooked with their pots. There were killings and rapes, threats and extortions and forced removals from their lands.

Until a decade ago, the small farmers stood alone but then the Fairtrade Foundation became involved in the country and showed the farmers, particularly the banana farmers, that a cooperative enables efficiencies and lowers expenses. It made a large market available and ensured the price didn’t fall below that of production. Fairtrade provided help and expertise and changed for many what had been a rural, grubbing kind of hand to mouth existence for the certainty of selling all their produce to a confirmed market. Improvements have been made not just to the land but also to their living conditions. Shanty houses with mud flooring were levelled and brick-built homes replaced them, reducing one grower to tears on seeing his new house.

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