9-19 BANANA
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual
A Resource Manual for Trainers
Draft Version 1.0
June 2011
Ready for field testing
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana
CONTENTS
1. Introduction 3
2. Improving management of
banana pests and diseases 4
3. Improving the productivity of
the banana plantation 12
4. Proper postharvest handling 16
5. Increasing returns from banana
production 16
6. Marketing and organic certification
of banana production 17
IMPRINT
Publisher:
FiBL, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture,
Switzerland, www.fibl.org
Collaboration:
> IFOAM, International Federation of Organic
Agriculture Movements, Germany,www.ifoam.org
> NOGAMU, National Organic Agricultural
Movement of Uganda, www.nogamu.org.ug
> FENAB, Senegal
> OPPAZ, Organic Producers and Processors
Association of Zambia, www.oppaz.org.zm
Responsible author:
Brian Ssebunya
Reviewer:
Jane Nalunga (Nogamu)
Illustrator:
Andrew Baingana
Draft version 1.0, September 2011.
This is an interim version. Comments and recom-
mendations for improvement are welcome.
This manual chapter can be reproduced without
permission.
All materials resulting from the Africa Organic
Agriculture Training Manual project are available
free of charge in the internet underwww.organic-africa.net
The production of this manual was funded by the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Syn-
genta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture with
the goal to promote organic farming in Africa.
All the information contained in this manual has
been compiled by the authors to the best of their
knowledge. Reasonable efforts have been made
by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
and their partners to publish reliable data and
information. The authors, the editors and the pub-
lishers cannot assume responsibility for the valid-
ity of the materials. Neither the authors, nor the
publishers, nor anyone else associated with this
publication, shall be liable for any loss, damage or
liability directly or indirectly caused or alleged to
be caused by the training manual and its tools.
The African Organic Agriculture Training Manual
is based on research funded by the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation and the Syngenta Foundation
for Sustainable Agriculture. The manual’s findings,
conclusions and recommendations are those of
the authors, and do not necessarily reflect posi-
tions or policies of either Foundation.
Please cite this publication as follows:
FiBL (2011): African Organic Agriculture Training
Manual. Version 1.0 June 2011. Edited by Gilles
Weidmann and Lukas Kilcher. Research Institute
of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick
ISBN 978-3-03736-197-9
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 1
9-19 BANANA
Learning targets for farmers:
> Understand good management practices of bananas
> Understand how to better manage banana pests and diseases
> Acquire knowledge on improving productivity of banana plantations
> Receive guidance on marketing and organic certification of banana produc-
tion
1 Introduction
Banana (Musa species) is a very important crop in sub-Saharan Africa, especially
Eastern Africa, where besides consumption as food, bananas have cultural and
medicinal values. There are many types of bananas grown in Africa, but depend-
ing on how bananas are utilised, they can be broadly grouped as follows:
> Dessert bananas – They include Cavendish, Red Bananas, Apple bananas and
Gros Michel. These are consumed as ripe fruits (table bananas). Most cultivars
are susceptible to nematodes, Sigatoka leaf spots and Fusarium wilt although
they are generally tolerant to weevil attack. Cavendish cultivars are the most
popular and valuable of the dessert bananas and are traded worldwide.
> Cooking bananas – They include the East African highland bananas (EAHB)
and many other types of plantains consumed as cooked or roasted bananas.
The EAHB are said to be endemic to the East African region and grow comfort-
ably at higher altitudes (above 1000 m). On the other hand, most plantains are
lowland varieties and are very susceptible to weevil attack.
> Beer bananas – These cultivars can perform well even in suboptimal condi-
tions and are used mostly for production of banana juice which is directly
consumed or used for making banana beer, wine or spirits.
> Multipurpose bananas – They include a number of improved cultivars such
as the FHIA hybrids. These have multiple uses from being used as dessert ba-
nanas to juice production. They are relatively tolerant to nematodes.
FaCTShEET 19: BaNaNa�
�
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 2
Bananas are a perennial tropical and subtropical crop, which grow in a wide
range of environments. However, the banana production systems can be divided
into three broad categories depending on the number of cultivars grown and the
intensity of management.
a. Backyard garden systems
Here banana is grown in a highly integrated system especially in peri-urban are-
as where land is limited. Bananas are grown mainly for food in combination with
other enterprises like zero grazed animals or vegetable gardens to supplement
nutritional or peri-urban market needs. This is a low input system and normally
no proper pest and disease management is done.
b. Perennial agroforestry systems
In this system, bananas are intercropped with mainly perennial crops like cof-
fee, vanilla, cocoa or fruit trees. In this system, bananas serve as a middle storey
shade crop, but also provide food for household needs. Any excess is sold to the
market. Different cultivars are normally grown together depending on the loca-
tion and the intended use of the bananas. The plants are not replaced until they
die of senescence or pests and diseases. This is also a low input system and many
pests and diseases are either partially controlled or not controlled at all, making
banana production highly vulnerable. However, it is the most common produc-
tion system in most banana producing areas in Africa.
c. Commercial plantations
These are normally ‘single cultivar’ monoculture systems, comprising mostly
dessert banana cultivars which have good export potential. Management of
these plantations characterised by careful selection of cultivars/varieties and
intensive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In this system, well-defined
crop cycles are also observed, usually lasting 2 to 5 years after which all plants
are uprooted and replaced.
Challenges to banana production in africa
Production of bananas in Africa is, however, threatened by many challenges, in-
cluding:
> Several important pests and diseases – Pests and diseases are the main
threat to banana production. Traditional banana cultivars have been severe-
ChaLLENgES FaCINg BaNaNa
PRODuCTION
�
�
POOR BaNaNa PRODuCTION
PRaCTICES
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 3
Discussion:
assessment of the
local situation
Inquire about the local
practices in banana pro-
duction and especially
about the common chal-
lenges faced in banana
production asking the
farmers the following
questions:
> Do you experience any
of the above or other
challenges?
> How have they tried to
address them?
ly damaged by a wide range of pests and diseases, resulting in heavy yield
losses. For example, bacterial wilt and Fusarium wilt are serious threats in
many sub-Saharan African countries leading to 100 % losses. Nematodes, ba-
nana weevils, Sigatoka leaf spots and banana bunchy top virus disease have
also caused immense damage to plantations. Most farmers lack information
on proper management of these infections so they continue to spread them
unknowingly.
> Low productivity of banana plantations – Low productivity is mainly due to
poor soil fertility management, water conservation and husbandry practices.
In highland areas, banana plantations are not terraced and yet many trees
are cut out of the garden. Running water from uphill washes down the topsoil
and mulch. The soil remains exposed and its water storage capacity is gradu-
ally reduced, and yet bananas require good soil moisture for proper growth.
Many suckers are left per banana stool, pruning and removal of male buds
is either done late or not at all. Crop cycles are not regulated whereby the
same garden of bananas is left for a long time without rotation or replanting.
Suckers for establishing new gardens are carried with all their roots from one
village to another, thereby spreading pests and diseases.
> hailstorm and wind damage – Bananas have shallow spreading roots, weak
stems and leaves. This makes them very susceptible to strong winds and hail-
storms especially during the fruit bearing stage. This is a common problem in
monoculture banana plantations where trees are cut for other purposes and
in highland areas.
Bananas, especially the cooking and dessert bananas are widely consumed in
Africa and are a source of livelihood for many people. The challenges mentioned
above facing banana production need to be addressed to ensure sustainable and
profitable banana production and utilization. This chapter therefore introduces
organic approaches to banana production challenges, which can be adapted to
local conditions.
�
�
IMPROVED BaNaNa
PRODuCTION PRaCTICES
�
�
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 4
�
�
�
�
Discussion on
local management
of common
banana pests and
diseases
Try to find out the most
problematic pests and
diseases in the area ask-
ing the following ques-
tions:
> Which banana pests
and diseases are com-
mon in the area?
> How do you prevent the
introduction or spread
of these pests or dis-
eases?
> What do you do when
an infection is identified
in the banana planta-
tion?
2 Improving management of banana pests and diseases
Bananas are susceptible to a wide range of pests and diseases. Some of these
pests and diseases are highly destructive and very contagious (easily spread),
and once introduced they are persistent and difficult to eradicate. In general,
the severity and occurrence of pest outbreaks and plant damage depends on the
prevailing environmental conditions, specific banana cultivars, and the specific
disease or pest. However, most of these can be managed and controlled by imple-
menting organic production practices.
The main approach in organic pest and disease management in banana pro-
duction is prevention and proper management of infections to restrict spread
and multiplication. With proper implementation of cultural practices (e.g. soil
fertility improvement, crop rotation, use of resistant varieties and clean plant-
ing materials, proper sanitation in the field and rouging of infected plants) many
of these pests and diseases can be effectively managed. This is also necessary
because most the destructive diseases cannot be eradicated by direct control
methods.
2.1 Establishing a new banana garden
A site with deep, well-drained and fertile soils, preferably rich in organic mat-
ter is good for banana production. It will encourage the development of strong
plants that can tolerate infections. A newly opened land without signs or history
of nematodes or the devastating Fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt diseases is pre-
ferred.
If the site has been used for production of bananas in the last two years, it
is highly recommended to remove all remaining banana plants and corms. Nor-
mally such remnants harbour a lot of pests and diseases. The remnants should
be transferred into another field (not of bananas), chopped and spread to dry or
composted. The land should then be planted with a legume crop (like beans) or
left to fallow with a legume green manure cover crop for 1 to 2 years. This will
ensure that any remaining pest or disease infections are completely removed
before introducing new banana plants.
All perennial weeds should also be removed and destroyed before planting
because bananas are very susceptible to weed competition. Some of the existing
�
�
PREPaRINg SuCkERS FOR
PLaNTINg (CORM PaIRINg)
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 5
trees at the selected site should be left during land clearing in order to protect
the young banana plants from wind and strong direct sunshine.
2.2 Selection and preparation of planting material
Proper management of banana pests and diseases starts with the careful selec-
tion and handling of pest and disease free and, where possible, resistant plant-
ing materials. The right cultivars and varieties should be selected with respect to
the disease problems prevalent in a given location. Some cultivars are resistant
to certain diseases like Cavendish and highland cooking bananas, and varieties
like FHIA 17 (Cavendish variety), FHIA 23 (Gros Michel variety) are resistant to the
devastating Fusarium wilt (Panama) disease. Clean planting materials of supe-
rior banana cultivars that are resistant to diseases exist, and can be obtained
through local extension officers, research stations or nursery operators (banana
tissue culture hardening nurseries). It is highly advisable to plant different cul-
tivars and/or varieties in the banana plantation. In case a variety or cultivar is
attacked by certain pests or diseases, then the whole field will not be wiped out.
Bananas are propagated using suckers or corms from the mother plant. Gener-
ally, well treated suckers/corms or tissue culture banana plantlets are highly
recommended because they are free of pests and diseases. Suckers for plant-
ing should be carefully selected and prepared to minimise spread of pests and
diseases. They must be obtained from pest and disease free plantations. Sword
suckers are preferred because they are usually less infected with nematodes and
weevils than bigger suckers.
Recommendations to farmers for preparing planting seedlings:
Planting materials should be prepared in the field from where they are being ob-
tained to limit the transfer of infections into new fields.
> Remove all leaves, outer leaf sheaths, roots, dead parts of the plant and pare
the corm (trim off part of the corm) to eliminate weevils, weevil eggs and
nematodes. Any brown and black spots that may appear on the corms should
also be removed until only white corm tissue remains.
> It is recommended to treat the suckers in order to clean them of any infec-
tions. This is done by soaking the suckers in soapy water over night to elimi-
nate weevil eggs and nymphs. Alternatively, the suckers can be treated by
Discussion on
preparation of
planting materials
Inquire how farmers
obtain planting materials
for new gardens by asking
the following questions:
> How do you prepare
banana planting materi-
als for establishing new
banana plantations?
> How do you proceed to
establish a new banana
garden?
Discuss the approaches
together while noting any
shortcomings and then
introduce the guidelines
below.
�
�
�
�
hOT waTER TREaTMENT OF
SuCkERS
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 6
�
�
ROuTINE MaNagEMENT
PRaCTICES
soaking the base of the plant in hot water (about 60 °C) for 10 minutes. This
will kill all nematodes in the outer layers of the sucker. A 10 % household
bleach solution (100 ml of solution in 1 litre of water) is also useful for disin-
festing corms. Submerge the base of the suckers into the solution for about
20 minutes.
Treated suckers should be planted within one week to avoid being reinfected.
Recommendations to farmers for planting a banana garden:
> Mark out rows - with a spacing of 3 m by 3 m (10 f x 10 f) to get the proper plant
population of 450 plants per acre. This helps to avoid competition between
banana plants and limits spread of pests and diseases from one plant to an-
other.
> Dig out planting holes - 60 cm by 60 cm by 60 cm (2 f x 2 f x 2 f) while placing
the top soil and subsoil on separate sides of the planting hole. This ensures
that during planting, the top soil mixed with manure/compost will be used
for refilling the hole.
> Plant bananas at the beginning of the rainy season - so that newly planted
plants receive enough water for quick establishment. When planting, do not
completely fill the planting hole. Leave a shallow basin of about 1 foot to en-
hance harvesting water for the young plant. Later during growth, this also
provides a conducive environment for producing new suckers away from the
mother plant.
2.3 Routine management practices
Some management practices are helpful in both strengthening the growing ba-
nana plants and in minimising the spread of pests and diseases. However, these
practices need to be routinely applied together as a package because, leaving
one practice may undermine the benefits achieved from the others.
a. De-suckering
Competition between suckers depletes soil fertility very fast and results in weak
plants which are very susceptible to infections. About 3 to 4 suckers should be
maintained per stool in order to ensure strong plants and good yields. Any ex-
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 7
tra suckers should be removed when they are still young. Suckers at different
growth stages (mother, daughter and granddaughter) on the opposite side of the
mother plant, should be chosen, also to avoid competition for light. De-suckering
should be done well, so that pruned suckers do not grow up again. The sucker
pseudostem should be cut off near its corm and the sharp point of the knife
twisted into the growing point to kill off the sucker permanently. During this ope-
ration, care must be taken not to harm other daughter plants.
In the course of time, the banana plants tend to grow away from the original
space whereby the gaps between the plants become smaller. At this point, it is
necessary to remove the plants that stand close to each other. If the original pat-
tern of the banana plantation becomes completely distorted, then the planta-
tion should be cleared and newly planted.
b. Deleafing
Old leaves and sheaths are susceptible to infections and can host infections if
not removed in time. Removal of old leaves helps in management of the Sigatoka
leaf spots, limiting its spread to young leaves and plants, while the removal of
old sheaths eliminates hiding places for adult banana weevils. In addition, old
leaves that hang downwards shield the young plants from sunlight. It is there-
fore recommended to remove all old leaves and sheaths that have attained natu-
ral senescence and use them as mulch.
It is, however, important that enough leaves are left on the plant to produce
a good quality bunch. The average number of leaves per banana plant should be
8 to 10 leaves at flowering and 4 at harvest. Complete deleafing of the plant prior
to harvesting is not recommended as this starts the ripening process, before the
plant is actually ready.
c. Cutting off male buds
Removing the male buds early also helps reduce the spread of diseases like the
banana bacterial wilt, which can be transmitted by bees collecting nectar from
the banana male buds. Care should be taken not to damage the hands of the
bunch while removing the male buds. Male bud removal also encourages quicker
development of the young bunch.
African Organic Agriculture Training Manual Module 09 Crops Unit 19 Banana 8
Discussion:
working groups on
field identification
of banana pests
and diseases
Organise a field visit with
the participants to dif-
ferent banana fields and
identify any observable
signs of pest or disease
problems. Ask t
