My name is Adam Kulhánek, and I study Landscape and Land Management at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Besides school, I dedicate my time to competitive rowing, which until recently was a significant part of my life. However, this changed in the middle of this year when I sustained an injury that required me to take a break from professional sports. I decided to focus more on my studies and gain new experiences through the Erasmus program.
Initially, I was looking for opportunities where I could gain primarily theoretical knowledge useful for my thesis. However, I came across an opportunity to travel to the Canary Islands, specifically Tenerife, to work on a banana plantation. Here, I focus on irrigation systems, erosion control measures, and overall land management – the complete opposite of the theoretical work I initially sought. That said, I must admit, I couldn’t have made a better decision. The work on the plantation is tough and dirty, but I enjoy it.
The plantation is located in the north of the island near the town of Puerto de la Cruz. I live in Los Ralejos, about 12 km away. Although it might seem more practical to live closer, I chose Los Ralejos intentionally. It’s a town rich in local culture, almost untouched by tourism. I stay in a small hostel for eight people where guests regularly rotate. This gives me the opportunity to practice English, something I wouldnv’t get if I stayed alone. As for Spanish, I started from scratch, so I’m glad I have someone to speak English with.
My workday begins at 6 am. I work on the plantation until 2:00 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break. Before diving into irrigation systems, I need to understand how the plantations and banana plants actually function. This isn’t easy, as the plantation owner is the only one who speaks English. Because of this, I’ve started to pick up basic Spanish, and after three weeks, I can already understand what’s expected of me. While I’m not yet fluent, I’ve made great progress.
I work alongside an older gentleman named Antonio, who has dedicated much of his life to banana plantations. Through him, I’ve learned many fascinating things, such as the historical irrigation systems used on Tenerife. These consist of concrete channels with three-meter intervals closed off by wooden boards. When irrigation is needed, water is released into the channels, and the boards are removed at the necessary points to direct water to the banana plants. This method has been banned on Tenerife because water is very expensive here, and waste is unacceptable.
Nowadays, modern irrigation systems are used, controlled by computers with timers. The main water distribution consists of PVC pipes with a diameter of 50 mm, which branch into irrigation hoses with a diameter of 10 mm. These hoses have two small holes every 200 mm, from which water drips to the banana plants. Each irrigation hose can be up to 400 meters long. Water comes either directly from the mountains or from large reservoirs scattered across the plantations.
I’ve never been afraid of hard work and prefer to focus on getting things done rather than complaining. Thanks to this attitude, I feel I’ve earned the respect of the local workers, which can’t be said for all interns.
After work, I usually head out with friends from the hostel to explore the island. In three weeks, we’ve driven nearly 2,000 kilometers, which is roughly the equivalent of 11 laps around the island.
For me, the most beautiful part of the island is the mountainous region. Tenerife boasts Spain’s highest mountain – Pico del Teide, which stands at 3,715 meters. It’s fascinating to start at sea level and make your way up to the summit. The landscape changes several times during the journey – from rainforests to deserts. The entire island has soil with a high magma content. The last volcanic eruption here occurred in 1909, and the volcanic landscape, especially around Teide, is breathtaking.
Alright, stay tuned for the next episode! And as my friend Antonio from the plantation would say: Mějte se krásně!