Agriculture is the main economic activity in Uganda. This is the sector on which the majority of the Ugandan people depend for their daily bread. Among the many crops grown, bananas are unique, especially a type called Matooke. This staple food is not only a basic meal’s cultural asset within the Ugandan population but also a scope of business for millions of farmers.

Uganda’s banana industry can not be overlooked. The country is among the leading banana producers in the world, and the product is vital to the food basket. Apart from food, bananas generate income and business for rural people in that they engage people in employment and trading. However, the process of banana transition from the farms to the market is faced with several challenges. Depending on the country farmers experience many challenges that compromise their output. Factors like pests and diseases and poor farming practices limit their yields.

This case study discusses challenges, measures taken, and gains being made in the Ugandan banana industry.

Understand how bananas, especially Matooke, serve both as a staple food and a major source of income for millions of Ugandan farmers.

Learn about key challenges like pests, soil degradation, and poor transport that have limited banana yields and market access.

Discover how disease-resistant banana varieties like Kiwangaazi and Nakitembe are improving yields by up to 30%.

See how road upgrades, storage facilities, and farmer cooperatives are helping reduce losses and raise incomes by over 25%.

Explore how post-harvest innovations, including solar dryers, are creating new market opportunities for banana farmers.

Indigenous Ugandan plantations have many challenges that limit the quality of their yields. Some of the most challenging issues to address include pests and diseases. Which are common in many instances. Some of these diseases are very fatal, such as Banana Bacterial Wilt and the Banana Weevil. Which greatly affects yields and the income of several farmers. These diseases are highly contagious. Once they infest the crops, containing them becomes quite challenging. Particularly for the smallholders with little or no input on modern Agricultural practices.

The availability of fertile soil is also one of the significant challenges. Most of them cultivate the same piece of land all the time without replenishing the nutrients. This practice results in soil degradation. Hence, there is a reduction in banana yields since plants need good soil for good yield. The farmers are unable to produce bananas as consumers demand. Also, as demanded by the markets due to poor soil management.

In the same midst, new problems have emerged from climate change. Issues like irregular rainfall and extended dry seasons. These climate changes mostly affect the farmers since they need help determining the appropriate time and season for planting crops and harvesting.

Some of the challenges faced by producers during transportation. Which includes a poor road network. Thus making it hard for producers to transport their products. Poor storage facilities also result in high post-harvest losses. These negate the quantity and quality of bananas that get into the market. In the process lower farmer’s earnings as well as the stability of the business.

In efforts to overcome some of the challenges that affect banana production in Uganda some of the following measures have been taken. One of the major approaches that has been used is planting disease-resistant bananas. These new varieties are less likely to be attacked by pests and diseases. This is really helpful to farmers as it helps them get higher yields. Among the various cross-breeding varieties, FHIA 17 and FHIA 25 are important. The CID-Honduran Foundation for Agricultural Research cultivates these hybrids. FHIA-17 also has some resistance to Panama disease, while all these varieties are resistant to Black Sigatoka, a severe leaf spot disease.   

Uganda’s research organization, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), in conjunction with IITA. They have cultivated several hybrids like Kiwangaazi (NARITA 7) and Nakitembe (NARITA 4). It is resistant to Black Sigatoka and has moderate tolerance to Banana Bacterial Wilt. Hence, it can be recommended for diseased-prone regions. The above varieties have created a lot of goodwill among farmers because they are resistant. And more so because their taste and texture resemble the traditional Matooke staple diet in Uganda.

Training services have been available to farmers to support the new disease-resistant varieties. With an aim of growing modern practices in farming. Many of these programs are directed to ways of soil management. Usage of organic fertilizer and the application of integrated pest management are taught. Therefore, farmers can fight against productivity and climate change on crop output.  

The increase of the banana supply chain has also remained a focus. This has been due to investments put in areas of physical infrastructure. Particularly new roads and storage facilities, which are affecting post-harvest losses. These developments ensure that a higher number of bananas arrive at the market healthy and boost farmers’ earnings.

Also, farmer cooperatives have been promoted to increase crop production. Through these cooperatives, the farmers are able to group their products. And buy and sell at a better price than they used to do individually and sell to new markets. In this way, farmers have a better chance of uniting themselves and physically negotiating better terms that would benefit all parties.

The key steps taken to implement these solutions are as follows:

Distribution of Disease-Resistant Varieties:

The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and other international organizations including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) produced disease resistant bananas including Kiwangaazi (NARITA 7) and Nakitembe (NARITA 4) to farmers in Uganda.

Example: In districts that included Mbarara and Ntungamo, these varieties were first tried out on a pilot basis. Seedlings were available to farmers and accompanied by training of the appropriate methods of planting and care. The success of such pilots expanded the use of such varieties. Hence, the effects of diseases such as black sigatoka and banana bacterial wilt are reduced.

 Farmer Training Programs:

The use of NGOs and government extension services aimed to create awareness. By offering training to farmers that exposed them to new methods of farming. Such programs included pest control, soil management, organic fertilisers, among others.

Example: In Central and Western regions of Uganda, the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), supported by the extension officials, organized farmers’ meetings and practical sessions. Farmers got to know how to avail these new techniques to increase yield and make crops more resistant. Most of the respondents reported yield gains of between 10 and 30 percent after implementing the practices.

Improvement of Rural Infrastructure:

Funds were collected with an aim of developing new roads. As well as upgrading existing roads in important banana growing regions. Also for cutting down post-harvest losses, storage facilities and banana processing plants were developed.

Example: For example, in the region of Isingiro, which is among the largest regions producing bananas, the development of feeder roads made a big difference. Especially in connecting the farmers to the markets. Before this however, road infrastructure was very bad. And at least 50% of the bananas would often be spoiled before reaching the consumers. These losses have been minimized through the new infrastructure.

Formation of Farmer Cooperatives:

The government and NGOs encouraged the establishment of farmer cooperatives to enable the small-holding farmers to pool their products. They make bargaining for better prices and outlets easier and provide access to new markets.

Example: The initiative has been implemented through such organizations as the Nyakyera Farmers Cooperative Society in western Uganda. From the sale, the cooperative members have benefited through better-negotiated prices for their produce. This has led to better incomes for the farmers. And increased security for the farmers who are part of the conservation arrangements.

These solutions have provided positive results. Other varieties, such as Kiwangaazi (NARITA 7) and Nakitembe (NARITA 4), brought improvement of banana yields through disease resistance. Farmers who adopted these varieties reported yield improvements of up to 30%. significantly boosting their incomes.

Infrastructure improvements, particularly the construction of feeder roads in banana-producing regions like Isingiro. It reduced post-harvest losses by up to 20%. This led to an increase in the number of bananas that were supplied to the market in a fresh state. Thus improving both the availability and quality of retail fruits.

The development of the farmer cooperative system, like Nyakyera farmers cooperative society. Smallholder farmers were able to improve their prices and markets. Cooperative members experienced income increases of 25%/. Due to collective bargaining and reduced marketing costs.

Technological advancements in post-harvest handling, such as the solar dryer, have provided additional income sources. Farmers producing banana chips saw a 15% increase in profits compared to selling fresh bananas.

The banana industry in Uganda has been on the upswing in recent years. Through disease-resistant varieties, infrastructure can be improved. Better practices can be implemented among farmers. Such initiatives have resulted in an increased yield. Decreased post-harvest losses and better earnings among farmers. 

It shows how these coordinated interventions could change the agricultural sector within the progress made. However, for these results to be maintained and for further strides to be made, certain conditions must be met. Support and innovation must also be continued. They should further increase the successful practices, market access, and evaluate other added-value products for the banana.