• Banana is a tropical crop that grows between the equator and latitudes 20⁰ N and 20⁰ S and from 0-1800m above sea level.
• Rainfall of at least 1000m per year is required and should be evenly distributed.
• Optimum temperature for growth is 27⁰C. Below 16⁰ C and above 38⁰ C growth ceases. 
• The soil should be deep, well-drained loose loams with high fertility and organic matter contents.
• Ideal PH is 5.8-6.5.

• Banana groups are organized into cultivar sub-groups which include Cavendish, Gross Mitchel and East African Highland 
• Grand Nain, William hybrid, Valery and Lacatan cultivars belong to Cavendish sub-group. 
• Kampala is a major cultivar in Gross Mitchel sub-group while Uganda green, Ngombe and Nusu-Ngombe are important cultivars in the East African Highland sub-group 
• Bananas are also classified on basis of utilization into dessert (ripening), cooking and dual-purpose cultivars. Cavendish and Gross Mitchel sub-groups are basically dessert cultivars/varieties. 
• East African Highland are for both cooking and ripening.

• Shelter the site from prevailing winds. 
• Avoid known hail belts or storm areas.
• Avoid areas prone to water logging or salinity. 
• Ensure proximity to water supply for irrigation when necessary.

• Analyze the soil for pH and nutrient corrections.
• Deep-rip to break hard pan and to remove tree/shrub-roots which can be source of disease-infection.
• Harrow to at least 20cm deep to produce a fine tilth and reduce compaction
• Prepare large planting holes by hand where deep ploughing may not be possible. 
• Undertake soil conservation measures on sloping land of more than 25%. 
• Construct bench terraces to cater for single or double rows of banana plants. 
• Construct contour channel banks on slopes less than 25%.
• Cover the banks with a binding grass

Weed Control 

• Light hand-hoe the weeds since bananas have shallow roots 
• Weed regularly especially before the leaf-canopy can suppress weed growth 
• Use paraquat herbicide on broad-leaf weeds while glyphosate is applied on grasses, but only when the plants are over 2m tall and the leaf canopy is raised.

Fertilizers 

• Apply fertilizers twice a year during the rainy seasons
• Apply at least 2 debes of manure per stool every year mixed with 200g of CAN.
• Other fertilizer requirements are guided by soil analysis 

Nematodes

• There are four major species of nematodes affecting bananas 

1.  Lesion nematodes 
2.  Burrowing nematodes 
3.  Spiral nematodes  
4.  Root-knot nematode 

The burrowing nematode is especially a serious pest of bananas in Coast, Western and Nyanza region where a marked yield decline has been reported.

• The first above ground symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, later, growth ceases and shoot development is stunted and, finally, mature plants may fall over.
• In advanced stages of infestation, root examination will show brown lesions especially near the rhizome.
• These brown lesions are particularly clearly seen when an affected root is split longitudinally and examined immediately. 
• The all stages of the nematode can be found in the root region of the plant.
• Pest is spread on suckers and corms sourced from infested fields .

• Almost all crop production in Kenya is rain fed.
• Rainfall variability and drought to crop production is a real threat to crop production and food security The drip irrigation offers an opportunity to produce food with limited water 
• Technologies such as drip irrigation systems for crop production  increase yields and conserves water for other uses

• Soil fertility has been declining leading to low orchard productivity.
• Many small scale banana farmers lack resources to purchase chemical fertilizers thus green manure would be a good alternative 
• Use of nitrogen-fixing perennial or annual plants parts, in rotation or intercropped, either applied to surface or incorporated into the soil in between the banana plants will enhance fertility 
• Application of a combination of 20 kg of well decomposed farm yard manure (dry) plus 200 g of basal phosphate fertilizer (DAP, Mavuno planting, TSP) has also been used in banana orchards.

Conventional suckers 

• Narrow leaved sword suckers are recommended.
• Remove when 1-2m tall.
• All the roots should be removed and the corm pared and the leaves cut.
• Dip the trimmed suckers in hot water at 55⁰ C for 20 minutes to control nematodes and weevils.

Tissue culture plantlets

• Tissue culture plantlets are grown from the tissue of the banana plant in a laboratory and subsequently transplanted into bags for hardening in a greenhouse 
• The technology is the preferred method for banana planting material for various reasons  

• Improved propagation methods to control pests and diseases.
• Uniformity in production.
• True to type plants.

• TC plants are transplanted when they are at least 30 cm tall, have 5 healthy dark green leaves, be in a 2 litre plastic bag and should be free from pests/
   

TC plantlets in a hardening nursery 

Planting

• Plant to coincide with the on-set of the rain season.
• Place the sucker or tissue culture plantlet into the hole ensuring the base is covered with the soil/manure/fertilizer-mixture to the previous soil-level.
• Water the plant if rain is not adequate 
• Plant drought-tolerant varieties such as William and FHIA where rainfall is not well distributed.

Deep banana planting technology

Inter-cropping

• Intercropping refers to cultivation of bananas with another low growing crop such as a legume, such as bean, in the same piece of land.
• The system maximizes land utilization and labour inputs.
• Legumes avail nitrogen from the air into the soil for the plants to use

Intercropping banana and beans

• Flowering begins 8-12 months after planting depending on the climate and management.
• The fruit matures 3-4 months after flowering 
• Harvest the fruits when they are three quarters round and appear light green and shiny 

Yield

• Under good management average yields of 30- 40 tons/ha can be achieved.

Packing 

• De-hand the banana before packing 
• Hang the bunch on the de-handing rail and using a sharp chisel or knife cut off the crown from the bunch stem
• Leave the banana-hands to bleed in water for 10 minutes then split into units of 5-6 fingers
• Wash the units, remove flower-remains and dry the hand-splits on clean benches.
• Sort out the damaged, deformed and lose fingers

Dip the hand-splits in Benlate solution (1gm/litre of water) or any other appropriate fungicidal dip, to control crown rot 

Pack the graded bananas in wooden or plastic crates (64 cm x 44 cm x 30 cm) lined with a polythene sheet.

 Banana products

• Banana powder – flour or powder is produced by dehydration used in bread and ice-cream manufacture 
• Dried banana figs 
• Banana starch 
• Banana juice 
• Banana wine 
• Canned banana slices 

To make banana juice, peel each banana and remove the extra fibers from the side of the fruit

Zero Energy Brick Cooler (ZEBC)

• The cooler is a low cost postharvest temperature management that improves the shelf life of banana using less power. 
• Cooling results from evaporation of water from the surface of porous materials such as sand or bricks 
• The evaporating water reduces the temperature of the air within the chamber compared to the ambient temperature 
• The technology extends the keeping quality of bananas by at least 2 weeks in relation to the ones outside the cooler

The Coolbot™

• A small electrical device that uses an off-the-shelf air conditioner that produces cold air  in a well-insulated room maintaining temperature at 4°C.

• Diversification of banana food products will enhance consumption of banana, as well as spur demand   which may increase production

Use of banana-flour will reduce over-reliance on maize-flour for human consumption in the Country  

Bananas can be processed to make flour, which can either be fortified or used to make nutritious porridge, or mixed with wheat flour (ration of 1:1) to make various bakery products such as chapati, mandazi, bread and cakes. Ripe plantain-banana can be deep-fried to make sweet chips or are roasted 

Over-ripe bananas with a fine flavor and texture can be used to make juice, jam and/or wine.

Machinery for use on the farm can be hired when required

• Cost of inputs may vary from one area to another
• On average

• Basic costs KES 100,000-120,000 per acre of banana for 18 months

Estimated returns KES 450,000-500,000 per acre per year for five years

• Common interest farmer-groups and cooperatives have better bargaining power in marketing.
• Availability of domestic and international markets for the commodity is big.

• KALRO HRI Banana Brochures (Banana Production and Banana varieties).
• Muchui M, Kamau E. (2013). Enhancing small scale banana production through field schools in Eastern Kenya.
• Nguyen van Thanh (2015). 1^st International Conference on Asian Highland Bananas
• Valerie A. Pearson, Banana Production. ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Nelspruit.
• https://www.kalro.org/sites/timps/KCSAP%20TIMPs%20-%20Banana%20June2019.pdf

Contacts

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization

P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi, Kenya 

Call: 0111010100