Globally banana is the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat and maize but in Uganda, it is the most important food crop as indicatedby production output, acreage, consumption levels and priority ranking by stakeholders. Annual production is estimated at 8.45 million tons, accounting for 15% of total world banana/plantain output. It is estimated that 75% of Ugandan farmers grow the crop on 1.5 million hectares, which accounts for over 38% of utilised arable land. The bananas produced are mainly for local consumption, with an estimated per capital consumption of
over 300kg, the highest rate in the world.
The banana is one of the most important food security crops in Uganda. Areas where banana production is a main activity are never hit by famine. This is because the plant's all-year-round fruiting habits coupled with high yield ensure continuous supply of dietary carbohydrate. Furthermore, the perennial nature of the crop makes it the least affected by drought or social instability. Above all, it is potentially a high yielder and the least labour demanding food to produce in the long run.These attributes make the banana a crop every Ugandan farmer longs to have to ensure household food security. Growing annual crops, or keeping money for purchasing food have all proved unreliable in peasant communities of Uganda because of difficulties of keeping the harvest/money under pressure from demands such as school fees. Every farmstead in Southern Uganda tries to grow banana for continuous supply of food or income. The crop is spreading fast in other parts of Uganda and across the East/Central Africa region for the same reasons.
In terms of rural revenue, the banana is the second most important cash crop in Uganda (after coffee), contributing up to 22% of National Agricultural rural revenue (Embrechts et al., 1996). This is further supported by data on returns to family labour which indicated that in south western Uganda banana is the second best crop, after coffee (Ssenyonga et al., 1998). Most bananas are consumed on farms. However, in many areas of Central and Western Uganda, particularly Masaka, Rakai, Mbarara and Bushenyi, many farmers produce large surplus (35% of production) for sale. Production and sale of banana beer is a major income generating activity in Western Uganda, particularly Kasese, Kabarole, Kibale and Hoima. Commercial activities involving the banana provide a rural employment opportunity to many people.
The banana crop occupies an important position in the socio-economic make up of the country. A culture based on banana cultivation and utilisation
in various ways has evolved over time making the banana an indispensable crop in the life of Ugandans. For example, banana food (Matooke) and banana juice have cultural functions in some stages of wedding ceremonies and funeral rites. Some of the East African high land banana cultivars are used for medicinal purposes in south-western and central Uganda. In terms of utilisation, almost all components of the plant has found some use in the daily life of a farm household. The fruits are steamed or boiled and consumed as the main meal. They may be ripened for use as dessert. They may be ripened and squeezed to provide juice which is taken fresh or fermented as local beer/wine. The wine may be distilled into a spirit (Waragi) which is already being processed and sold locally or exported as "Uganda Waragi". The banana pulp may be dried and powdered for use in bakery products though this option is yet to be developed. The dried pulp may be stored as a food reserve to guard against famine, a long forgotten practice currently being revived. These uses indicate that thebanana has a high industrial potential which is not yet fully utilised.
