BANANA – The world’s largest herb

INTRODUCTION

It is a massive herb that can grow up to 15 meters high when the leaves unfold, they cover one on top of the other and together form the pseudostem which looks like a tree but has no wood. The world’s largest herb is the Banana tree which is actually a berry.  

The Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, among other research institutions, use the word “banana” to refer to Musa species that are sweet and eaten raw, while “plantain” denotes Musa species that are starchy and requires cooking before consumption.

2. IMPORTANCE

Banana plays an important role in strengthening food security and reducing poverty levels in many developing countries such as Nigeria. Banana is rich in vitamin C, B6, minerals, and dietary fiber. It is also a rich energy source, with carbohydrates accounting for 22% of fruit weight for bananas. Nigeria is one of the largest bananas producing countries in the world. These crops have always been important traditional staples for both rural and urban populace in Nigeria, while they have diversity in value addition to consumers.

The increased population of individuals in the peri-urban and urban areas of Nigeria has further contributed to an increased demand for easy foods especially natural foods such as bananas. Banana is also exported thus serving as a source of revenue for exporters.

3. CULTIVATION AND SUITABLE FARM PRACTICES FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

Banana exhibits the characteristics of a perennial which is it not. This implies that it has to be properly managed by its owner which is not always the case in Nigeria. In a quest to achieve optimal performance, the following farming practices must be implemented.

1. Plan productions i.e. use a calendar to organise your actions. Identify where to buy quality suckers, where to source for labour, plan when to apply agronomic activities.
2. Perform soil analysis to see if nematodes are present in the soil and to know which nutrient is lacking
3. Land preparation: Clear the land, plough, and harrow the field. Irrigate and apply lime or potash during ploughing.
4. Planting: This can be achieved by planting with tissue culture plants, bits and suckers. Suckers are commonly used in Nigeria. The best suckers are usually Around 1.8 – 2.1m in height and they have sword-shaped leaves that are thin.
5. The planting depth should be up to a knee. The distance between the pseudo stem and the topsoil should be 10cm. Add about 100g of organic manure around the hole before planting. In the planting hole, add 20g of urea, 125g of SSP, and 50g of MOP 30 days after planting.

• Spacing: spacing between the rows is 3m apart and between the plants is 1.5m in the row. The size of the hole must be 30cm x 30cm. 1 hectare of land will hold 2222 stands of banana suckers
• Irrigate (sprinkler irrigation system) the banana field after planting. Fertilizer application depends on the result of the soil analysis done before planting. Fertilizer application for banana will include 250g of Urea, 105g of SSP, 320g of MOP at the 5^th month after planting. 
• Systemic herbicides can be used to control weeds before planting while manual weeding is used to clear the weeds in between rows after the establishment of the banana plantation.

CULTIVARS OR VARIETIES OF SEED ADAPTED TO NIGERIA.

Banana sucker has many varieties because it is referred to as the most traveled crop. The popular variety is the Cavendish banana sucker. Other varieties include Grand Naine, Gross Michel, Blue java (aka Banana Panya), Dwarf Cavendish, Eastern African highland banana, etc. however, there is a great deal of variation in locally consumed banana.  Banana takes between 9 -12months between the time it is planted and when it’s a bunch of fruit, which will weigh 20 -25kg on average.

5. Pest and Diseases

Like all other crops, the banana plant is plagued by various disease infections such as Black and yellow Sigatoka, Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), Crown/head disease, Fusarium wilt, heart and stem-end rot, Banana bract mosaic virus (BBMV). Its pest is weevils, banana aphids, nematodes, etc.

These are better controlled by integrated pest management (IPM). IPM helps to mitigate the effect of pesticides on the environment. The IPM approach combines biological, mechanical, and chemical methods of pest and disease control.

HARVESTING AND HANDLING

A well-managed banana tree starts fruiting from about 150days after planting, producing at least 20kg of banana fruits per blossom.  The banana stalk usually takes 75-80days days after planting from the period of lower production to when then the fruit is mature. The banana bunch should be at least 75% mature before harvesting because ripeness occurs at different stages. A knife is used to cut the “hands” of the bunch when it is ready for harvest. They can be stored in a shady and cool environment.

Banana is an export product, although, in Nigeria, it is consistently consumed. Banana destined for export needs to be properly handled and are not harvested when ripe as ripening occurs while the fruit is on transit. Post-harvest losses for plantains have a number of causes, including rough handling, harvesting at maturity just before the fruit ripens, lack of processing options, contamination from spoiled fruits, and inadequate storage and transportation.

PROCESSING, USES AND BY-PRODUCTS OF BANANA

Banana serves as raw material for various confectioneries such as custard, banana flour, ice cream, chocolate, etc. Banana flour is a powder made from green banana which can serve as an alternative for wheat. The flour serves the food industry, beverages, pet food and feed industry. Banana peels are usually served cooked, boiled or fried, though they can be eaten raw or blended with other fruits. Banana in other countries such as Southeast Asia and the Americas are steamed and used in making beer or for cooking.

ADVANTAGES AND REASONS TO GROW

Bananas are known to reduce and protect against developing Diabetes, aiding weight loss, strengthening the nervous system, and help with the production of white blood cells. Bananas are high in oxidants, which can provide protection from free radicals which are cancerous. It is packed with potassium, a mineral electrolyte that is required for heart beating in the human circulatory system. This may also help protect one’s cardiovascular system against blood pressure according to the FDA.

Banana serves as a source of food accepted across a range of ages, genders, and socio-economic groups. It is eaten with groundnut, fruit salad, etc.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT IN SESAME IN NIGERIA

Bananas are often sold as fresh produce, in local markets, and with little differentiation. In addition, there is a massive underutilization of banana residuals which could serve as a raw material for value-added products, increasing agricultural productivity and reducing waste.

Opportunities exist for industrial use of diverse banana by-products, such as peels, leaves, pseudostem, stalk, and inflorescence. This can lead to various food and non-food applications, including use as a thickening agent, coloring and flavour agent; and as alternative sources of macro and micronutrients, nutraceuticals, livestock feed, natural fibres and sources of natural bioactive compounds and bio-fertilizers (Padam et al., 2014). In addition, local processing into vinegar, juice, beer, and other beverages is a form of value addition particularly suitable to women, either as individual entrepreneurs or organized into collective enterprises.

Further options include processing of bananas into various products like biscuits, sweets, crisps, cakes, jam, sauce, and yogurt that are more palatable (Adeniji et al., 2010; Akinyemi et al., 2010), and blending banana fruits and foliage into livestock feeds,

AVAILABLE MARKETS

Banana is a commonly consumed food item. Bananas can be prepared through a number of methods, including boiling, steaming, mashing, baking, drying, and pounding into fufu. Banana is often consumed as a snack. It is a common relish in all Nigerian markets and quite expensive in the Northern regions. The surrounding states of Lagos serve as a banana resource base for the consumer markets in Lagos. Hence, the product tends to be cheap along with environs such as Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Ondo but is very expensive in Lagos. It is a common sight to see traders conveying bananas via trucks to Lagos. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION

MATERIALS	TOTAL
Land preparation	25,000.00
Manure	9,000.00
Transportation	15,000.00
Fertilizers	75,000.00
Labour (Fertilizer App)	10,000.00
Labour (Insect/fungi app)	5,000.00
Insecticide	12,000.00
Planting	6,660.00
Suckers	66,600.00
Weeding	50,000.00
Total	274,260.00

LAND SIZE	YIELD  (BUNCHES)	UNIT PRICE	TOTAL
1 ACRE (1st year)	444	700	310,800.00
1 ACRE (2nd year)	444	700	310,800.00

The cost of maintaining the banana plantain in the 2^nd year is 60% of the 1^st year production. Hence, the gross profit will be 138,000 Naira.

CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES OF CULTIVATING IN NIGERIA

Some of the constraints plaguing the production and yields of Banana in Nigeria include

1. Inadequate knowledge of improved cultural practices around banana production
2. Inefficient government extension services and the limited scope of banana research is partially responsible for continued low yields in Nigeria. The average farmer to extension agent ratio in Nigeria is 2500:1
3. Black leaf streak, burrowing nematodes and banana weevils are the major diseases and pest constraints affecting banana production.
4. High transaction cost limits banana supply i.e. high cost of transporting and selling banana is quite expensive in Nigeria.
5. Lack of adequate drainage structures which often is caused due to high installation and running costs.
6. Environmental factors such as wind damage, poor nutrients status of soils, and inappropriate use of fertilizer are limiting the production of banana. 

REFERENCES

Adeniji, T. A., Hart, A. D., Tenkouano, A., Barimalaa, I. S., & Sanni, L. O. (2010a). Comparative study of pasting properties of improved plantain, banana, and cassava varieties with emphasis on industrial application. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 10(5). Retrieved from http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajfand/article/viewFile/56342/44782

Akinyemi, S. O. S., Aiyelaagbe, I. O. O., & Akyeampong, E. (2010). Plantain (Musa spp.) Cultivation in Nigeria: a Review of Its Production, Marketing, and Research in the Last Two Decades. Acta Horticulturae, 1, 879, 211-218.

FAO (1987). Root and Tuber Crops, Plantains and Bananas in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities. Rome, Italy; Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Plant Production and Protection Paper No. 87.83

Fonsah, E. G., & Chidebelu, A. S. (2011). Economics of Banana Production and Marketing in the Tropics:(a Case Study of Cameroon). African Books Collective.

Mohammadi, I. M. 2006. Agricultural waste management extension education (AWMEE) The ultimate

National Agricultural Extension and Research Liason Services. (2005). Annual Agricultural Performance Survey Report of Nigeria for 2005.

NAERLS Press, Ibadan: Need for intellectual productivity. American Journal of Environmental Science, 2: 10–14.

Padam, B. S., H. S. Tin, F. Y. Chye and M. I. Abdullah. 2014. Banana by-products: An under-utilized

renewable food biomass with great potential. Journal of Food Science Technology, 51:

Robinson, J. C., & Galán, S. V. (2011). Bananas and plantains. Cambridge, MA: CABI.

Zhang, P., Whistler, R. L., BeMiller, J. N., & Hamaker, B. R. (2005). Banana starch: production, physicochemical properties, and digestibility—a review. Carbohydrate Polymers, 59(4), 443-458.

http://nhb.gov.in/pdf/fruits/banana/ban007.pdf

Written by Joseph Okpaire