This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
September 14, 2019, marked a significant milestone for Patrick Musamula, a 61-year-old farmer from Vihiga, who has been practicing banana farming on a small plot of land.
With only 0.9 acres of land, Musamula has managed to grow 32 stems of the Fhia-17, Valery, and Grand Nain varieties, a feat that has inspired others to try their hand at banana farming.
According to Musamula, he switched to bananas after realizing that he could make more money from the fruit than from maize. He notes that from a land that would give him a 90kg bag of maize selling at Sh3,500, he could plant six banana plants that yield more.
Since he started farming in 2016, Musamula has harvested more than 60 bunches of bananas, selling each one at between Sh1,000 and Sh1,500. He attributes his success to the county government, which provided him with seedlings.
Prof Mathews Dida from Maseno University advises that one should be careful when saving space, especially when planting bananas, to avoid overcrowding and maintain the standard spacing.
Musamula's aim is to show people how a small land can be utilized to give high banana yields. He runs a training programme on his farm, offering tutorials on banana farming and sharing his knowledge with others.
