By Prossy Nandutu
Just like any other crop, for one to harvest the required quantities and quality of raw materials, in this case bananas, quality of seed is key.
“When planning to plant bananas, consider the source of seed, cost, quality, and how well that seed can survive the various pests and diseases and the productivity in terms of yield,” Okurut told farmers at the expo.
For seed, he explained that one could go for tissue cultured banana plantlets that are produced from the same plant but multiplied faster in the laboratory, or one could go for suckers but quickly warns of the possibility of carrying diseases from one place to the other especially the banana bacterial wilt, weevils, among other banana diseases.
“If not sure, visit the nearest research station near you or work with extensions workers to help in guiding on the appropriate source of seed,”
examples of new banana varieties that farmers should consider this farming season that were exhibited at the expo include
KABANA 6H, best for Cooking. It is resistant to black Sigatoka which is a leafspot disease, can tolerate banana weevils but also tolerant to nematodes, the invisible worms that cause root rooting and toppling of the plant.
When ready, the bunch usually weighs 57.7kg, and the yield potential from one hectare which is two and half years is 60 metric tons per year, for the return on investment, a farmer can easily earn sh18,000,000, with all factors remaining constant.
NAROBan1 (M19) is another variety considered for cooking but is tolerant to nematodes and weevils, resistant to Black Sigatoka, bunch weight 61kgs, yields 54.9 tons/ha/year. Economic return ha/yr Ugx 16,470,000 and takes 141 days to mature.
NAROBan2 (M20) for cooking but also tolerant to nematodes, banana weevils
The variety is also resistant to black sigatoka, a bunch weighs 67kg, yields 60.3 tons per hectare per year and the economic return per year is sh18,090,000, the maturity days are 130.
NAROBan4 (M27) good for food because it is Soft, tasty, aromatic and near-yellow color.
The variety is tolerant to nematodes and weevils, resistant to Black Sigatoka, bunch weight 83kgs, Yields 66.9 tons/ha/year and Economic return ha/yr Ugx 20,040,000, takes 126 days to mature among others
