Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

YIELD

(*)

possible.

(*)In commercial plantations, the aim is to produce about nine hands per bunch,

weighing between about 20 kg and 65 kg.

UTILISATION

in their skins and then peeled, or peeled and roasted in hot ashes, or fried with

maize, beans, potatoes, etc. To store, they can be peeled, dried and ground into

• finger millet is often added to the brew, which is rich in Vitamin B and other


• 
  

marginal areas such as parts of East Africa they are used as a famine reserve

food. Sweetmeats, the so-called banana figs, are made from dried slices of ripe

fruits. Flour is made from dried unripe fruits, and powder is made from dried

• are eaten as a boiled vegetable. Occasionally available in specialised shops in


• • • • • •

With poor management, the plant crop usually gives the best yield, with lower and
lower subsequent yields.

are usually higher than for the plant crop. Also, as less time is taken to produce a
ratoon crop, the yields per unit of person-hours labour are greater.

assuming an average bunch weight of 16–23 kg. The FAO estimate for the world-
wide average in 2004 was 16 MT/ha; the top national average was recorded in
Guatemala (52.5 MT/ha) and the lowest was in the Cayman Islands (1.3 MT/ha).

and then mashed in Uganda this is known as — matoke. They can also be boiled

beer varieties are mainly used—the mature, unripe fruits are sliced and dried; in

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252 TONY WINCH

Wit h good management the reverse is true; yields from the early ratoons are

An average annual yield is about 1000–1200 bunches/ha, or 16,000 to 27,600 kg/ha,

With good crop husbandry, including irrigation if necessary, 75 MT/ha is

Raw, eaten as fruit—about 50% of bananas are consumed this way. They are

Plantains—these account for the other 50%. They are normally peeled, cooked

especially useful for children and for people of all ages with gastric complaints.

flour (sometimes called ugali).

Dried products—many different types are made: Banana chips, for which the

Brewing—very popular in certain parts of Africa. Flour made from sorghum or

Male buds—in some places such as southeast Asia the ends of the inflorescence

useful nutrients, not to mention the alcohol itself.

ripe fruits.

the West.

Animal fodder—various plant parts can be fed to animals, an important aspect

for some groups such as the Wachagga in Tanzania.

protection, etc.

Ink—a brown indelible ink can be extracted from the sap.

Dried leaves—used for tying material, thatching, screens, plant pots, head

Shade crop commonly used for cocoa and coffee plants.

Green leaves—used for plates, umbrellas, wrapping material, etc.

Fibre—extracted from the pseudostem, it is used for fabrics, rope, tea bags, etc.