The following was received via email: pls can you help in given me more information on banana platation am a young graduate from Nigeria who graduated as an electronics engineer but want to become a successful plantain farmer. i will be very greatful if you can send me a comprehensive information. thanks in anticipation.
Involves constant weeding under tropical conditions, cutting and transporting heavy bunches of bananas to market. Some areas also have aggressive spiders that live among the bunches, bite and even kill harvesters (don't know if this includes Nigeria). But the main thing of all will be economic aspects in your area, if you can obtain funding to develop plantation on suitable land, produce and market crop in your region. Who are you planning to sell to?
I think you need to make a determination as to soil and water considerations and whether your climate can handle growing fresh market, non-cooking, Bananas outdoors in your location. Personally, I think you might be better off to consider greenhouse culture and growing select dwarf forms such as Cavendish or grow varieties that are not so available in your area from possible imports being grown in South and Central America and the Caribbean. I'd suggest you look into Bananas that are different from your current non-export Bananas. Growing Dwarf Red Bananas may be your specialty niche if you can create a market for them. To be successful means you will have to spend lots of time determining what you need to do just to be able grow Bananas where you are and what all it will entail money wise just to get a plantation started from the ground floor. I am thinking the availability of stock plants to grow is one of your least worrisome tasks. How to grow them, where to grow them and knowing your limitations will be the much tougher aspects for you to deal with. Below are a few links for you to look at. http://www.ics-nigeria.org/plantain_1.htm http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/banana.html Jim
