Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

22 Les productions bananières / Bananas and food security – Session 1
sales in local, regional and international markets, they are becoming more and more
important as cash-crops, in some cases providing the sole source of income for rural
populations. As a staple food crop, bananas are particularly important as they produce a
good quality food year-round and are adaptable to a wide range of cropping systems. In
some countries, bananas are more than just a food crop. They are also used as an
important source of fibre and are fermented to produce alcohol. This paper examines the
nutritional, economic and social role that bananas play in the many countries where they
are cultivated. The various different uses of the banana plant are described and trends in
production over recent years are examined. Information is provided on the world’s main
banana producing, consuming and exporting countries and comparisons with other major
staple food crops are provided.
Introduction
Bananas and plantains are cultivated in over 100 countries in the tropical and subtropical
regions of the world where they constitute a major staple food crop for millions
of people, as well as providing a valued source of income through local and international
trade. They are grown over a harvested area of approximately 10 million hectares, with
an annual production of around 88 million metric tonnes, of which a third is produced
in each of the African, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean regions. They are
the developing world’s fourth most important global food crop after rice, wheat and
maize in terms of gross value of production. The vast majority of producers are smallscale
farmers growing the crop either for home consumption or for local markets. As
well as being a cheap and easily produced source of energy, they are also rich in
vitamins A, C and B6. Furthermore, with increasing urbanisation, bananas and
plantains are becoming more and more important as cash crops, in some cases
providing the sole source of income to rural populations, thus playing an important role
in poverty alleviation.
Bananas and plantains are one of the cheapest foods to produce. The cost of
production of one kg of plantain (assuming black Sigatoka control is not required) being
less than for most other staples, including sweet potato, rice, maize and yam (Chandler
1995). Consequently, bananas and plantains can be a very cheap food to buy and are
hence an important food for low-income families. Bananas and plantains will also grow
in a range of environments and will produce fruit year-round, thus providing a source of
energy during the “hungry-period” between crop harvests. They are particularly suited to
intercropping systems and to mixed farming with livestock and they are also popular as a
backyard crop with urban populations. When grown in perennial production systems,
they maintain soil cover throughout the year and if their biomass is used for mulch, soil
fertility and organic matter remain stable. In mixed farming systems, bananas are used
as a ground shade and nurse-crop for a range of shade-loving crops including cocoa,
coffee, black pepper and nutmeg. In some countries, bananas are more than just a food
crop. Among other uses they also provide an important source of fibre and are fermented
to produce alcohol.