This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
Meshack Monari, a determined farmer from Nyamira, has found success in a surprising crop: bananas. In 2006, he shifted from coffee to banana farming, utilizing his 4.5-acre land to cultivate traditional green bananas in high demand due to their nutritional value.
Monari's journey began when he realized that coffee farming was not rewarding, with low market prices of Sh20 per kilo. He decided to clear his coffee plantation and explore alternative ways to sustain his family. Inspired by a neighbor, he started small with eight banana suckers bought at Sh25 each.
With Sh30,000 from his savings, Monari expanded his banana farm, prepared the land, planted the suckers, and hired labor. He added calcium ammonium nitrates (CAN) fertiliser and farmyard manure to foster growth. However, initial challenges arose as weevils and moles attacked the tender roots of the suckers.
Monari incurred additional costs of Sh1,500 to purchase traps and used wood ash to drive away weevils and termites. Today, he and his wife have a total of 1,320 banana stems, mostly distributed to nearby markets in Chabera, Ikonge, Sondu, and Kisumu.
Monari harvests between 35 and 40 bunches in a week, depending on the maturity of the produce. He notes that a mature banana is dark-green, while an immature one is light green. Using a forked branch, he clips the bunches to prevent them from falling to the ground.
Before the dip in banana prices, a small-sized bunch fetched Sh500, while large-sized ones were sold for between Sh900 and Sh1,200. Monari also sells banana stems to dairy farmers at Sh50 per kilogramme. He employs four workers to help with harvesting, packaging, and distribution.
Monari practices mulching using dry grass and leaves to avoid excessive water loss between November and March. He has also dug a well in his compound, pumping water to the farm during the dry season. Banana plants produce many suckers that can be sold, and Monari notes that bananas take seven months to mature.
According to Kelvin Gathee, a horticulturist and researcher from Kakuzi Horticulture Packhouse in Thika town, bananas can thrive in a wide range of soils as long as they are well-drained and fertile, with adequate moisture content. He emphasizes the importance of understanding factors like pests, diseases, labor input, and transportation expenses. Availability of a ready market should also be prioritized, and farmers should plant banana varieties with better yields and disease resistance.
