Scientific basis for banana <i>cultivar</i> proportions on-farm in East Africa

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) production and diversity in the East African region, has been on the decline for the last 20 years due to both a biotic and biotic problems. There has been an ecological and socio-economic imbalance in the East African Highland banana (Musa AAA-EA) growing systems due to this decline. However, farmers have been growing these bananas in cultivar mixtures, a practice which ensures the continuous sustainability of the system. Cultivar mixtures, however, seem to be in specific proportions based on the strength and weakness of each cultivar and so affecting the clone sets to which cultivars belong, as well as providing predictions on the conservation status of each clone set. The primary objective of the study was to account for the farmers' perceptions behind cultivar proportions and to understand the scientific basis of these proportions in selected sites in East Africa. The study was carried out in Karagwe, Bushenyi and Masaka districts in East Africa, a region considered to be a secondary centre of diversity for bananas. Thirty farms were sampled in one selected parish/ ward in the three sites for ecological data. The quadrat method was used to record abundances of identified cultivars in order to determine the cultivar proportions. Ethno-botanical data collected on traditional knowledge was analysed for twenty-three identified traditional cultivar-selection criteria used in the participatory rural appraisal (PRA), as well as interviews from 15 key informants of each study area. A total of 105 cultivars were identified, 76% of which were the East African Highland bananas. Although fourteen cultivars were common to the three sites, Masaka had the highest proportion with Nfuuka cultivar leading the five clone sets. Cultivar diversity indices explained the proportions in terms of richness and evenness and Nfuuka was the richest clone set. Although all clone sets were represented at each site, they were not evenly distributed; a factor which is disadvantageous in the conservation status of the crop. While results indicated that the agro-ecological and traditional utilisation criteria formed the basis for cultivar proportions on farm for both Karagwe and Masaka, farmers were found to do so because of the high traditional values attached to the crop. However, knowing cultivar proportions in terms of richness and evenness can assist in predicting the stability or change in diversity of banana growing sites.Key Words: Highland, Musa spp., Tanzania, Uganda RÉSUMÉLa production et la diversité de la banane (Musa spp) dans cette région, a été sur le déclin pour le dernier 20 ans en raison des problèmes biotiques. Il y a eu un déséquilibre écologique et socio-économique dans la région montagneuse Africaine del 'Est (banane de montagne, Musa AAA-pièce) des systèmes de croissance en raison de ce déclin. Cependant, les agriculteurs ont grandi ces bananes dans les cultivars associés, une pratique qui garantit la durabilité continue du système d'association de cultivar, cependant, semble être dans les pr...

Carbon sequestration potential of East African Highland Banana cultivars (Musa spp. AAA-EAHB) cv. Kibuzi, Nakitembe, Enyeru and Nakinyika in Uganda

“…Investing in proper management of banana plantations is invaluable towards contributing to SOC as a major carbon pool in agro-ecosystems. Considering that EAHB cultivars cover 75% of the total area under banana production in Uganda (Gold et al, 1998;Nantale et al, 2008), banana cropping systems therefore need to be revised to incorporate species as EAHB whose significant contribution towards a major carbon pool has for years gone unnoticed. In addition, climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) framework should be considered to improve investments in smart agricultural practices like proper management of banana plantations.…”

“…(b) and (d) were also considered for the same reason in other studies (e.g. Nantale et al, 2008;Wairegi et al, 2009). Therefore, out of 58 visited farms, a total of 14 farmer plantations (7 in each area) were considered since they were the only ones meeting the above criteria.…”

“…as the highest banana producing areas in the respective districts. Mbarara district lies at a high altitude of about 1400 m above sea level (0°20.5'S 30°31'E) and Lwengo at a low altitude range of 1080-1330 m above sea level (00°24'S 31°25'E) (NEMA, 1997;Nantale et al, 2008;Kemigabo and Adamek, 2010). Both areas experience a bimodal mean annual rainfall range of about 1000-1500 mm (Lwengo) and 1000-1200 mm (Mbarara).…”

“…It is also recognized as a secondary center of diversity with different observed cultivars on individual farms with over 75% being East African Highland Bananas (Suzanne and Emile, 1999;Edmeades et al, 2005;FAO, 2009, Karamura, 1998Nantale et al, 2008). Banana farming system dominates Uganda's cropping system (Bagamba et al, 1999;Kamusingize et al 45 Kamanyire, 2000).…”

Yield Perceptions, Determinants and Adoption Impact of on Farm Varietal Mixtures for Common Bean and Banana in Uganda

“…Net production of both common bean and bananas within Uganda remains below their full potential, mainly due to losses from diseases and insect pests [45][46][47]. These crops are maintained as a mixture of different varieties in farmers' fields [43,48] in arrangements that include; random, rows, small plots, borders and rows in a plots according to Mulumba et al [5]. There are different banana types including the brewing, cooking, desert, plantain; and there are different varieties within these types.…”