The high human cost of Benin's white gold
In short: Benin's cotton industry accounts for nearly 40% of the nation's exports, but this economic lifeline comes with a devastating human toll. This documentary explores the grueling reality behind the harvest.
The film follows the perilous journey of 'white gold' from Northern Benin to the coast. Truck drivers navigate treacherous roads in unstable vehicles, while dockers at the end of the supply chain earn just twenty cents to move 400-pound bales.
Beyond the logistics, the documentary highlights a stark hierarchy of labor. It captures the lives of farmers and children working for basic survival, as well as women breaking rocks under extreme heat. It illustrates how an industry vital to the national economy relies on intense physical hardship and minimal rewards.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Benin: The Cotton Curse | Deadliest Journeys
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/nature-benin-the-cotton-curse-deadliest-journeys.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics
