Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

Introduction : E. Frison and S. Sharrock
t/ha
20
15
10
5
0
1970
1972
China
Philippines
1974
Figure 6. Increase in Musa yields in China
and Philippines, 1970-97.
Highland bananas
(AAA) and
other ABB
cooking
bananas
34%
Plantain (AAB)
4%
1976
1978
1980
Cavendish - export
5%
Cavendish - local
consumption
35%
Gros Michel and
other dessert
bananas
22%
Figure 8. Musa production in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Highland bananas
(AAA) and other
ABB cooking
bananas
24%
Plantain (AAB)
21%
Cavendish - export
13%
Gros Michel and
other dessert
bananas
14%
Africa, accounting for 73% of production (Figure 10). However this only constitutes 44%
of global plantain production, with another 40% being produced in Latin America and
the Caribbean (Figure 11). Other important sub-groups of bananas include the East
African highland bananas, which constitute some 72% of bananas grown in the Great
Lakes region of East Africa (Figure 12), and the Maia Maoli/Popoulu group of bananas
which are cultivated throughout the Pacific Islands.
Importance of bananas as an export crop
Only around 13% of bananas and plantains produced enter the world export market.
Although this is a relatively small proportion of total world production the crop is
27
Cavendish - local
consumption
28%
Figure 7. Major types of bananas grown
worldwide.
Plantain (AAB)
23%
Gros Michel
and other
dessert
bananas
19%
Highland bananas
(AAA) and other
ABB cooking
bananas
2%
Cavendish - local
consumption
24%
Cavendish - export
32%
Figure 9. Musa production in Latin America
and the Caribbean.