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BANANAS
Date:
Form:
Name: Leroy Walker
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction - page 2
Section 1 – Planting - page 3
Section 2 – Tending - page 4
Section 3 – Harvesting - page 5 & 6
Section 4 – Map of St.Vincent and the Grenadines - page 7
Problems affecting bananas - page 8
Solutions to the problems encounter - page 9
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INTRODUCTION
Banana production in the Windward Islands goes back to the early twentieth when fruits were
exported from Dominica. Since then, there have been various initiatives to consolidate the an
export business, but is was not until the 1950s that a well-grounded banana industry really began.
With increasing production from St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and St. Vincent, and the
foundation of the Bananas Growers Associations and WINBAN in the mid to late 1950s, there
appear to be a good time ahead for bananas farmers. The next decade was marked by the industry
exporting its highest level yet; some 201, 000 tonnes.
Banana production for export is a business and we must, therefore , have a development plan for
our farm if we are to run it effectively. In an effort to improve our performance, we must set
ourselves goals. We must aim for excellence. Each of us, for example, could attempt to produce
“ A” grade fruit, and to pack forty cartons from every acre, every week of the year. Once we
have decided on our goals, we can now look at what it takes to produce fruits of that level.
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SECTION 1 – PLANTING
Five things farmers should take into consideration whenever they decided to commence
planting bananas. These include:
I. Prepare the land by clearing it and spraying it with pesticides;
II. Aligned the holes on each row or column ( approximately 2 – 3 feet apart);
III. Dig the holes with a scoop ( approximately 4 feet deep);
IV. Treat the young suckers with nematicide and insecticides);
V. Plant the suckers (you are to place some fertilizers into the hole prior to planting.
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SECTION 2 – TENDING
Planting the bananas is but one thing, taking care of them is another. Hence the following are
five things any conscientious farmer should do in taking care of his bananas. They are:
I. Once the plants start to grow the farmer should carry out what is called “weed control”;
II.. They should then apply fertilizers to the growing plants;
III. Following this they follow up this by cleaning and pruning the young banana plants;
IV. They should now apply nematicide and insecticides;
V. Then they should carry out follow selection i.e. keep one sucker as a follower and then
destroy or de-sucker the rest;
VI. In addition, they should also practice bunch protection by sleeving using blue diotene
and follow by deflowering.
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SECTION 3 – HARVESTING
Having work tirelessly on the bananas it is now time to reap the harvest from our production.
This is as tedious a task as those follow earlier. It however, includes the following:
I.Select the correct age or grade of bananas to be harvested;
II.A few days before harvesting turn up the diotene sleeving. This is to harden the skin of
the bananas;
III.Cut two healthy leaves from the banana plant that is to be harvested. Turn them down
with the main vein exposed – lap them to form a kind of sheet;
IV.Start de-handing from the bottom of the bunch. Cut out the stalk from each hand.
Furthermore, cut the hands in clusters with a maximum of six clusters;
V.These clusters are then turned downwards on the bananas leave cut earlier with the
crown resting on the main vein ( mainly for stain dripping)
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VI.The clusters are then transported in a padded tray with diotene between them to the
packing shed. At the packing shed the bananas are dipped into a tub filled with
approximately eight (8) gallons of water laced with a chemical solution;
VII.The dipped bananas are taken from the tub, allowed to drain on a table for later
packing in boxes to be transported to the banana buying depot.
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PROBLEMS AFFECTING BANANA PRODUCTION
I.Moko Disease – this is caused by a species of bacteria which affects the system of the
plants.
II.Leaf Spot – banana leaf spot is caused by a fungus. Leaf spot diseases reduce the
productivity of the plants and production of the farm while also seriously affecting the
quality of fruit production.
III. Nematodes – these are very tiny worms which feed on plants. They cannot be seen
without the use of a microscope.
IV.Slugs and Snails – these feed on the peel of the fruit and may attack the bunch at any
stage of production. Slug and snail attacks result in heavy scarring of the banana fingers
which must be rejected in the field.
V.Harvesting and Handling – fruits must be harvested at the correct maturity stage so
as to get the best possible bunch weight while avoiding the risk of ripening on the way to
the overseas market. The market requires fruits of a uniform maturity stage to avoid
uneven ripening of boxes of bananas.
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SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
Moko diseases – when planting a new field DO NOT use planting material from any
field in an area infected by Moko.
Leaf spot – carry out field sanitation method. These include the removal of old, disease
leaves which produce spores in the air. This practice reduces the source of diseases
spores.
Nematodes – use either uninfected materials or by the use of chemicals (nematicide)
which poison the worms. Nematicide for bananas are either liquid ( e.g. Vydate) or
granular ( e.g. Furadan, Miral, Mocap).
Slugs and snails – these can be controlled with Metaldehyde or Methiocarb. Note: use
Metaldehyde as follows: place three (3) tablespoons of 5% commercial bait at the base of
each mat or mix half (½) pint “Slugit” in three (3) gallons of water and spray infested
areas. Three (3) gallons should be cover one hundred (100) square yards total area.
Repeat if it rains soon after. Use Methiocarb as follows: apply 4% bait pellets to the base
of each mat according to the manufacturers’ directions.
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