Over the years, banana has been one of the staple food crops across a number of Counties countrywide but has gradually changed to cash crop following the increase in its demand.
Western region has for a long time been known for maize production being the main food crop unlike Counties such as Nyamira, Kisii, Embu and Kirinyaga among others making huge income from Banana farming that has become one of their popular cash crops.
With the increase in demand of bananas both for domestic use and market, Elisha Andalya Agri-Business Officer in Tongaren Sub-County has called upon farmers in Western Region to start growing bananas on large scale citing how profitable the crop is.
Mr. Andalya noted that farmers who adhere to the rules in line with banana growing would derive more profits highlighting that the crop is on high demand and can easily earn farmers income, with its readily available market.
He asked farmers in Counties within Western region to embrace the crop besides other crops like ground nuts which he termed as most profitable. Andalya named common cooking varieties that would do well in Western Kenya including; ngombe, mutahato, gradi shiskame and Uganda green.
Desert varieties include; bokoboko, apple banana, giant cavendish, Chinese Cavendish and Mutaru among others. Unlike maize crops among other cereals, banana farming is highly profitable business opportunity one can venture in, as its value attracts high prices while raw and ripe.
Tongaren Sub-County Agri-business officer has relentlessly called upon farmers in Western to embrace banana farming citing huge profits & income associated with the crop besides coffee farming which is most profitable.
By Otindo Aggrey.
