Bananas are the world’s most consumed fruit, with over 100 billion people eating them yearly. Bananas taste similar to plantains, which present a promising alternative to bananas and offer several advantages over them. Ghanaians widely consume plantains as a staple food. Most farmers and investors in Ghana are exploring innovative initiatives to transform their stable business growth into increased growth. This blog will discuss innovative ways to boost Ghana’s Plantain Production and Economic Growth.

First, let’s talk about the benefits of Plantains.

Gluten-intolerant people also consume plant-based products, such as plantain bread or plantain flour, for healthy diets. Unlike bananas, plantains have thicker skin and turn from green to black with time as they ripen. 

People eat plantains both before and after they become ripe. Nutritionally, plantains possess higher vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium content than bananas. The plantain is high in fiber, which promotes intestinal health and prevents digestive problems like constipation. 

The potassium content of plantains tends to normalize blood pressure, which aids cardiovascular health. Vitamin C acts like an antioxidant, enhancing one’s immune system. 

Plantains have a relatively low glycemic index, which helps to maintain blood sugar levels. In addition, plantains consist of compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation.

Plantains are more versatile for cooking savory meals, while bananas are sweeter and favored for raw consumption. People typically use green plantains, which are starchy and less sweet, for frying, boiling, or baking, while they usually prepare ripe plantains as savory dishes due to their increased sweetness.

In plantain farming, the Ghanaian farmer needs help with problems, mainly in production and export challenges.

In Ghana, access to finance needs to catch up; as a result, farmers cannot afford to invest in essential inputs like machinery, better seedlings, and fertilizers. Weed control requires a certain amount of labor and resources. Viruses, such as black sigatoka and banana bunchy top virus, harm plantain production. A shortage of workers leads to delayed planting and harvesting, especially during the busiest times of the farming season. Poor transportation systems and high transportation costs make it difficult for the product to reach markets and reduce its profitability efficiently. 

Storage problems are the most concerning in the exporting system. Plantains’ short shelf life and quick ripening make them lose a lot of product after harvest. Inadequate storage facilities and poor transit networks exacerbate these losses. Careless handling techniques during shipping and storage also lead to damage and spoilage.

Fihan owns a plantain farm in Ghana. He started with a 1-acre farm and now has a 6-acre plantation farm. Researchers found that the average size of a plantain farm in the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, and Eastern Regions is about 2 acres per farmer or approximately 87,120 square feet. Recently, he noticed a halt in his production growth, prompting him to explore new opportunities. Though his business is not in dire condition, he still wants to bring about some changes in plantain production, especially in the export system. In Ghana, the average annual growth rate from 2017 to 2022 was about 1.9%, indicating a steady increase in production.

Fihan, a young man with innovative ideas, plans to create products from plantains that are both long-storable and virus-free to solve all the problems associated with storage systems. This will not only create a new product line but also ensure a new source of growth for our exporting system.

His goal extends beyond enhancing his business; he also aims to draw attention from other investors by showcasing his successful business model, attracting them more readily. He collaborates with a researcher who has provided the necessary data to create a well-organized plan. Herlin, a researcher focusing on health and food safety, is searching for ways to properly utilize every food, crop, or fruit by turning it into a product. Herlin suggested developing a product line to tackle the recent problems at plantain farms, with a primary focus on exporting plantains by converting them into products for other countries and a secondary focus on supplying products to Ghana.

In the food section, Ghana wants to create products such as plantain chips, flour, muffins, and cakes; in the non-food section, they offer plantain paper, fabrics, and plantain-based biodegradable plastics; and in the medical section, they want to offer plantain powder, tea, and vinegar.

Plantain chips, muffins, cakes, and plantain flour are gluten-free, do not contain dairy, are nut-free, and are soy-free. They also have many nutritional benefits compared to the usual market chips. Non-food products are a beneficial choice for any customer, and plantains have a considerable advantage for medical purposes.

Traditional medicine uses plantain powder for its healing properties. Anyone can apply it topically or consume it for various health benefits. It benefits wound healing, digestive health, respiratory relief, and skin conditions.

The plantain plant’s leaves produce plantain tea. People use it for its medicinal properties, which soothe digestive issues, reduce inflammation, and support respiratory health.

Plantain vinegar is innovative. By infusing plantain leaves in vinegar, plantain vinegar is created, a natural remedy that offers numerous health benefits and practical uses. It reduces inflammation, prevents infections, aids digestion, and is beneficial for respiratory conditions like coughs and bronchitis. It may add flavor to salads, marinades, and sauces, and clean naturally with its antimicrobial capabilities. 

All of these products are organic and offer significant health benefits due to their purity. His clever strategy entails creating a successful business model that attracts investors and motivates farmers to work more on the plantations. This approach will alleviate the shortage of workers, particularly during the peak farming season, and encourage more investors to invest more capital. This, in turn, will address the issue of credit availability and enhance the transportation system. In summary, this could improve both the plantain production infrastructure and the exporting system. 

Like Fihan, more investors should invest and take this step to build a profitable business. However, it still raises the question of why anyone should choose Ghana’s plantain industry to start a business.

The positive news is that the demand for plantains has increased. In 2019, the global consumption of plantains reached about 43 million metric tons. Plantains are produced in Ghana, the second-largest producer in the world, with an estimated 4.7 million metric tons produced annually in 2018. 

Ghana exports plantains to many countries, especially those within the West African sub-region. Some destination countries for Ghana plantains include Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. Because of their high quality and economic relationship with Ghana, these countries import plantains from Ghana.

Plantain market units have enormous potential to add value to processed products. These items, such as flour and plantains, have received growing demand in both domestic and export markets.

Various governmental and nongovernmental programs offer financial assistance to plantain growers, providing them with financial resources and expertise. These programs have the potential to enhance profitability and productivity.

The rich soil and tropical environment support the growth of plantains in Ghana, resulting in excellent food production. Organic farming and intercropping are sustainable farming techniques that are gaining popularity among farmers. These farming methods enhance higher fertility levels in the soils with reduced toxic results by reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Farming plantains is very profitable. For example, a well-managed one-hectare farm of plantains in Nigeria will realize more than ₦ 1 million, or about ₦ 2,500, in profit annually. Ghana’s similar market dynamics and growth conditions allow for the expectation of a comparable level of profitability.

The plantain industry in Ghana has huge potential for growth and profitability. Innovation and collaborative solutions to production and export challenges will give the industry an advantage, increase its total growth rate, satisfy global demand, and improve local economies. The combined effort of investors and farmers will pave the way for a robust, sustainable, and prosperous plantain sector that will benefit all stakeholders.