Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

Asie/Pacifique - Asia/Pacific : A. Molina and R.V. Valmayor
Table 5. Important commercial cultivars of banana in Southeast Asia.
Country Dessert varieties Cooking varieties
Indonesia Pisang Ambon Putih Pisang Kepok
Pisang Ambon Lumut Pisang Oli
Pisang Raja Sereh/Susu Pisang Kosta
Pisang Raja** Pisang Tanduk*
Pisang Barangan
Pisang Mas
Pisang Nangka
Malaysia Pisang Mas*** Pisang Awak
Pisang Rastali Pisang Raja**
Pisang Embun Pisang Nangka*
Pisang Berangan Pisang Tandok*
Pisang Masak Hijau
Pisang Lemak Manis
Pisang Abu/Nipah
Thailand Kluai Hom Thong*** Kluai Namwa**
Kluai Khai
Kluai Lep Mu Nang
Kluai Hakmuk
Vietnam Chuoi Ngu Chuoi Mat
Chuoi Tien
Chuoi Tieu
Chuoi Tay
Chuoi Bom
Chuoi Sap
Philippines Lakatan Saba
Latundan Sabang Puti
Buñgulan Cardaba
Inarnibal Turangkog
Amas Matavia
Morado Tindok*
Giant Cavendish***
Grande Naine***
Laknau*
* Plantain; ** Eaten fresh; *** Export variety.
cacao, coffee, black pepper, nutmeg, etc. But in some cases, banana is the crop grown
under the shade of taller plants as in coconut plantations. In Malaysia and southern
Philippines where plantation crops are extensively grown, banana is often planted as a
temporary intercrop to the young rubber and oil palms. The banana provides income
during the non-productive stage of the permanent crop. Once the primary crop becomes
established and the bananas interfere with the rubber or oil palms, the bananas are
eliminated. In some parts of the Philippines, coconuts, bananas, papayas and pineapple
are grown in the same area under a multi-story combination. A banana-based cropping
system highly recommended in Southeast Asia is to plant short duration crops between
the rows of newly planted banana. The catch crops can profitably utilize the vacant
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