About 22,000 farmers in the Windward Islands (Dominica. Grenada. St. Lucia, St. Vincent) supply bananas for export to Europe on a weekly basis. The terrain is mountainous, with more than 50% of banana fields having slopes greater than 20 degrees. The soils are all volcanic in origin with relatively high clay contents and, although not highly erosion-prone, the combination of steep slopes, intense rainfall and bare surfaces can lead to serious erosion. Banana cultivation is often blamed for soil erosion and siltation of streams but. managed properly, stands of bananas and plantains offer excellent protection for the soil. Lou -cost operations like minimum tillage, effective drainage, thoughtful use of plant litter and maintenance of Vetiver grass lines all contribute to effective soil and water management in this cropping system.