Murang’a: A section of farmers in Maragua constituency, Murang’a County, are steadily embracing plantain banana farming and ditching the age-old common bananas.
According to Kenya News Agency, who has shifted from traditional banana farming to cultivating plantains, the latter offers a more lucrative return. Kinyanjui, who faced financial losses despite the hard work in his banana farm, turned to plantains due to the dwindling profits of regular bananas.
The price challenge with common bananas is largely due to middlemen in the value chain, who siphon off a significant amount, leaving farmers at a disadvantage. Consequently, many farmers are exploring plantain banana farming, which is more profitable and less dependent on middlemen. Traditional banana farming is being relegated to home consumption.
Kinyanjui shared insights from his farm, noting that nurturing a banana stem to maturity takes nearly a year, yielding as little as Sh.10 per kilogram. In contrast, plantains can fetch up to five times more in t
he market. On his two-acre farm in Kamahuha, Kinyanjui has over 250 plantain banana stems, which started from 84 mother plants in October 2020. He previously grew other banana varieties, which he has now limited to home use.
Kinyanjui highlighted that with adequate irrigation, especially during dry months, plantains are ready for harvest in 9 to 12 months. He emphasized the importance of proper planting techniques and soil conditions, noting that plantains thrive in acidic soil with a Ph. of 5.5 and mature into larger, tougher fruits with a thicker skin compared to regular bananas, ensuring a higher return on investment.
To maximize productivity, Kinyanjui advises proper watering, mulching, and the regular addition of compost manure or urea fertilizer. Besides selling mature plantains at Sh60 per kilo at farm gate price, Kinyanjui also sells plantain suckers for Sh300 each and provides agronomic support to aspiring plantain farmers.
The disparity in profits between plantains and regular bananas is stark. W
hile an average 60kg bunch of regular bananas fetches Sh. 200 at the farm gate, it can retail for Sh400 to Sh450 locally or even Sh800 outside the county. In contrast, a kilo of plantain bananas ranges from Sh300 to Sh450.
Plantain bananas are favored for their health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, promoting cardiovascular health, and aiding in digestion and weight management due to their fiber richness, antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin C content. For farmers unable to switch to plantain farming, Kinyanjui suggests exploring value addition in the banana value chain to enhance profitability and extend the fruit’s shelf life.
