Somalia Banana Production and Export Guide, EN.

JAMHUURIYADDA FEDERAALKA SOOMAALIYA WASAARADDA BEERAHA & WARAABKA

‫ﺟـﻣـﮭــﻮ رﯾﺔ اﻟﺻـﻮﻣـﺎل اﻟﻔﯾدراﻟﯾﺔ وزارة اﻟزراﻋﺔ واﻟري‬

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & IRRIGATION

INVEST IN SOMALIA

BANANA PRODUCTION & EXPORT GUIDE

Forward Banana is an essential commercial crop in Somalia with production concentrated along riverine areas. After a 40 year absence, the Somalia banana sector is regaining new focus and maintains several vital comparative advantages in the global banana market.

When good agricultural practices are adopted, banana production is highly profitable and rewarding for Somali farmers.

This handbook is a source of information and technical knowledge on banana production for Somalian producers and exporters. It contains Good Banana Production Practices (GBPPs), which include field layout and land preparation, fertilizer application, disease, and pest management, post-harvest and handling, processing, packaging, and transportation. The use of these practices can transform banana production and export in Somalia.

Also included are practical experiences from Somali farmers with over 50 years of experience in the banana sector resolute in their efforts to revive the banana export industry. The USAID-funded Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment, and Livelihoods (GEEL) program supported the development of this handbook as part of a broader effort to revitalize Somalia’s banana sector and spur private sector investment in the country.

GEEL also facilitates the training of Somali banana farmers to addresses gaps in production, processing, storage, and infrastructure. Through regional and international trade forums, GEEL connects farmers to input suppliers, exporters, and financial and technical services, to leverage their opportunities for longterm impact and sustainable growth.

Banana in Somalia Somalia has a nearly century-long history of banana production. In the 1920s and 30s, canals were constructed in the Lower Shabelle region to support commercial production. Twenty years later, production expanded to the Middle Shabelle and Lower Juba Regions.

Banana production reached its peak in the early 90s with the production of 188,500 metric tonnes of banana on 6,800 hectares of land, 60 percent of which came from in Lower Shabelle). At that time, Somalia was reportedly the largest banana exporter in Africa, engaging around 140 large commercial farmers, each with plantations ranging from 40 to 500 hectares.

According to government records, banana farms produced about 25 to 30 tonnes per hectare per year.

As of 2019, farmers are cultivating banana on approximately 6,000 hectares, mainly in the Lower Shabelle. Rehabilitation of additional farms is on course to meet the growing demand for bananas in domestic, regional, and international markets. By adopting new skills and technologies, Somali farmers can double their yields and increase income.

Commercial banana production in Somalia is highly profitable and can significantly contribute to economic growth.

Banana Production Cycle Farmers must adopt a good planting program and plant the bananas in the rainy season.

Propagation and Planting Commercial bananas are seedless and propagated exclusively by vegetative means. The banana has a reduced underground stem, called the rhizome, which bears several buds. Each of these buds sprouts and forms a pseudostem and a new bulbous rhizome.

These daughter plants are called suckers.

Traditionally, banana farmers have been using suckers from the old plants, commonly called “Banooni.”

Vegetative Methods The vegetative method is the most common in Somalia, where farmers use suckers from their plantations to propagate new crops. However, this method comes with the following risks:  Using planting material from plantations risks the spread of existing problems.  Fields cultivated with traditional material have a high labor requirement and produce non-uniform plant material.  The use of suckers requires continuous replanting, as approximately 20 to 30 percent of the planting material is predicted to perish soon after the first planting.  Suckers should be removed from the mother plant using a sharp spade when it reaches 1.2 to 1.5 high.

Tissue Culture Banana farmers propagated plants through tissue culture. Tissue cultured plants have the following advantages:  They produce the most uniform plant material, growth, and cropping if the management of new plants is sufficient to maximize these benefits.  Tissue cultured plants are disease-free when purchased, and thus virtually eliminates the chance of introducing pests or disease into a plantation.

Crop Establishment Farmers must consider conduct extensive research and due diligence on the following elements before embarking on the development of a commercial banana plantation, to ensure it meets the export market standards.

Land Selection   

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Before planting, farmers should conduct a soil analysis of the field.

Recommend land comprised of fertile, deep, and well-drained soil, with a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.

The soil must not be compact and should have sufficient water retention capacity. If the soil compact, recommend a subsoiling of at least 50 - 70cm.

Sandy clay loam with a depth of at least 1.5m is ideal as banana roots grow to that depth.

Land Preparation Correct land preparation techniques are the key to optimum crop yield as it creates the necessary soil conditions and a suitable environment for the plants to grow.

During land preparation, farmers should use implements that do not alter the structure of the soil. Recommend a ripper with chisels tines 1.2m in length to make two crossed passes at 45 degrees, an average adequate depth of 0.80m.

Land Preparation Steps      

Farmers should plough the field several times to prepare the compacted soil, recommend 30 cm to 40 cm by using a disc plough.

During land preparation, it is crucial to prevent soil erosion.

Farmers should eradicate weeds but not to remove any vegetation residues to increase the concentration of organic matter in the soil.

To prepare compacted soil, recommend a special tool like a chisel plough.

Farmers should level the field before planting.

Farms should develop a drainage system to drain excess water during the rainy season.

This system is called “BiyoShuur” in Somali language, meaning drainage, and is common amongst Somali banana farmers.

Stages of Plant Development   

Infant stage: between 73 and 137 days Juvenile stage: between 73 to 116 days Reproductive stage: between 110 to 156 days

Experts recommended sword suckers and the maidenhead as propagation materials, and advise farmers to eliminate water suckers as soon as they appear.

Experts recommend the use of lab-developed tissuecultured planting material or carefully selected suckers from hardened nurseries. There are three types of recommended suckers:  Maiden Heard - a large non-fruit pseudostem.  Sword Sucker - attached to the plant mother with narrow sword-like leaves.  Water Sucker - superficially attached to the mother rhizome with leaves.

Field Layout The recommended practice is a rectangular or square system with a distance of 2.5m between plants and 2.5m between rows, which accommodates up to 1600 plants per hectare.

Other options are: • 2.5m between plants and 3m between the rows, which accommodates 1,333 plants per hectare.

• 3m between the plants and 3m between rows, which accommodates 1,111 plants per hectare.

• 2.8m between the plants and 3m between rows, which accommodates 1,450 plants per hectare.

• 2.7m between the plants and 3m between rows, which accommodates 1,550 plants per hectare.

• 2.6 m between the plants and 3m between rows, which accommodates 1,650 plants per hectare.

Regular and square planting system

Double furrow/groove planting system

Equilateral planting system

Crop Nutrition Crop growth depends on, among other things, nutrients. Macro and micronutrients are essential for increased quality and yield of banana plants. Improvements attributed to balanced fertilization are widely documented.

Low soil fertility is one of the main constraints to optimum crop growth and yield. Fertilization macronutrients manage soil fertility. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are the ‘primary macronutrients’ and form the basis of NPK fertilizer compounds. These are elements needed in high amounts by the crop, and thus large quantities must be applied if the soil is deficient in one or more of them. Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulphur (S) are the ‘secondary macronutrients.’

Micronutrients are elements required in minimal quantities and are essential for the overall performance and health of the crop. They include Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum (Mo), and Boron (B).

Nitrogen is essential to improve dry matter production and yield, including the number of hands per bunch in banana.

Water Management Bananas require approximately 70 cubic meters of water per hectare to thrive. Water stress slows their growth and results in small curved fruit unacceptable in export markets. Water sourced directly from rainfall, seasonal rivers (tested for salt content), and groundwater reservoirs, is suitable.

Water storage options include reservoirs and tanks.

It is vital to establish an efficient irrigation system to utilize and manage water resources effectively. The different types of irrigation system available are:

Micro-Jet Irrigation The micro jet system applies water uniformly and is ideal for large volumes of water with pressure to pump it. The system is efficient in water application, can distribute water uniformly, and fertilizer through it. Recommend the use of under the tree sprinkler irrigation, with an efficient drainage network on the farm, instead of flood irrigation in the field.

Drip Irrigation System Drip irrigation is the most efficient system in terms of water use. Simultaneously, it can be used to apply fertilizers directly to the root zone of the plant.

However, irrigation experts don’t recommended this method because of frequent nozzle blockage and the lack of alerts to notify farmers when it happens.

Gravitational Irrigation or Flooding Flooding is the least efficient method of irrigation and the most common among farmers in Somalia.

Surface irrigation is the distribution and application of water through small channels that cut across the farm or flooding of the surface of the field. Experts recommend the sprinkler or siphon irrigation to manage and distribute water efficiently.

Pest and Disease Control Weed Control Weed control is a crucial practice in banana farming. Weeds compete for fertilizer, water, nutrients, space, and light and, therefore, should be controlled. Bad management can result in significant economic loses, while good farm maintenance to control them lead to higher yield.

Banana Weevils Farmers should use clean and disease-free plants to establish a banana farm. Using tissue culture is recom- mended as the planting materials are free of pests and diseases. Laying traps to kill and reduce the banana weevils. Weevils are mobile at night and can be trapped using pheromones. Maintaining proper field sanitation and using pesticides can help reduce the prevalence of pests and disease.

Burrowing Nematode (Radopholus Similis) The burrowing nematode is the most destructive nematode species for banana plants.

Symptoms Dark patches or spots on the roots indicate nematode infestation. Severely infected plants may show only stubs of rotted roots and may fall when the bunch has formed. Other nematode species such as Pratylenchus spp., Helicotylencus spp. and Meloidogyne spp. are also threats to banana plans.

Control Measures    

Remove infested plants Use nematode-free planting material Use plant resistant cultivars Exercise biological control using Paecilomyces Lilacinus, a fungus that parasitizes the egg, larva, and adult of the nematode.

Bacteria Wilt Bacteria Wilt is one of the most popular destructive diseases caused by Xanthomonas.

Symptoms  

Premature ripening and staining of fruits Yellowing of leaves, premature drying of the male bud, and the flowing of a puss-like liquid from a cut stem.

Control Measures   

Cut and destroy plants that show the symptoms of the disease to prevent the disease from spread- ing to other plants.

Use clean farm tools.Wash them and treat them with heat.

Use clean tissue culture planting material or treated suckers to avoid planting infected materials.

Fusarium Wilt TR4 The fungus Fusarium Oxysborum causes Fusarium Wilt TR4.The disease spreads through infected sucker, infected tools, soil, and shoes and disrupts the water vessel of the plant.

Symptoms  Yellowing of leaves  The collapse of the petiole forming a skirt around the plant.

Control Measures  Maintain field hygiene and limit the spread of the disease by immediately removing the infected banana plants.  Clean all tools, materials, and clothing thoroughly after contact with infected plants.  Use a resistant variety of plants, including Caven- dish, FHIA 17, and FHIA 23.

Black Sigatoka Black Siga Toka is one of the most devastating banana diseases caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella Fijiensis. It significantly reduces yield production and the effective photosynthesis of the leaf.

Symptoms   

Severe discoloration and leaf necrosis Poor fruit formation Small fingers Control CC

Control Measures    

Maintain proper spacing of the plant Maintain soil health and fertility Maintain proper field hygiene by eliminating the affected leaves.

Use clean farm tools.

Anthracnose The disease presents as pin-sized brown or black sunken spots on green fruit and is prevalent post-harvest, during transport and storage. The infection mani- fests when the fruits ripen, and black, round, slightly sunken spots appear. The centers of the spots become dark because of the formation of small black fruiting bodies of the fungus. Under moist conditions, masses of spores are produced having a characteristic salmon (pinkish) color. The pulp of diseased fruit is usually not affected unless the fruit is over-ripe.

Flowering: Bunching to Harvest Flowering is a complex process of inflorescence where female flowers (pistillate) appear where the ovary develops into a seedless fruit without being pollinated or by parthenocarpy, with a cluster of female flowers that typically arranged in two rows. These flowers develop into a “hand.” As the female flowers develop into fruits, the distal portion of the inflorescence elongates and produces clusters of male flowers known as “Staminate,” that produce fertile pollen.

Tagging and Monitoring to Prevent Damage It is essential to tag commercial banana plantations, reserved for export markets, to identify relevant plants and harvest them on schedule. Farmers should monitor these plants regularly to prevent damage from scratches or pests, as only those free from damage are fit for export.

Bunch Covering and Pruning Insects and windblown leaves are known to damage, bruise or scratch growing banana fruits. An essential part of GBPPs is to cover banana bunches with small polyethylene bags to ensure the harvest of high-quality banana fruits for export.

Harvest and post-harvest management for Export When to Harvest Bananas Banana harvests are typically spread evenly through- out the year. The banana fruits have a distinctive edged appearance while still green, which gradually becomes round as they ripen. The angularity of the fingers judges the stage of maturity - the more rounded a finger is in a crosssection, the more mature it is. The fingers are considered mature for harvesting when they are green and 3/4 round (75 percent maturity).

Firmness of Pulp Issue

Description

Risk

Pulp color

If the pulp color tends to be more cream especially at the central axis, it is rejected.

Fruit has begun the ripening cascade prior to harvest

Creamy pulp

There is a significant loss of turgor in the pulp. There is no pull resistance to thumb mechanical pressure.

Fruit has begun the ripening cascade prior to harvest.

Full grade fruit

This fruit is probably old or was not harvested young.

A physiologically old fruit can turn yellow during transit to market.

Under/over specification

The inspected fruit is under or over specification when graded by caliper.

Problems with identification of fruit ready for harvest or poor agronomic conditions at the plantations.

Quality Control Pre-harvest: Fruits to Discard       

Old aged fruit: higher calibration or less calibration of the harvesting order Maturated fruits: soft pulp and deformed hands Fruits with more than 50 percent of damaged fingers Bunches with two or more hands affected by fungus Bunches with any state of burns from the chemical product in more than 50 percent of its fingers Fruit harvested outside its scheduled day Bunches without colored identification tape to identify its physiological age

How to Harvest Banana  

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Using a machete, cut the bunch carefully and carry it to the transportation cable.

Place the bunch on the pad to carry to cable wire to prevent damages to the fruit during transport to the packaging plant. Experts recommended the use of a cable wire transport system for bunch transportation.

Use colored ribbons on bunches to efficiently identify and arrange fruits for shipping, only selecting bunches that meet specified criteria for processing.

Register the bunch weight, date of harvest, and harvest block, among other details.

De-handling, washing and packing Fruits arrive at the packaging station through icable ppsystem or itractor trailers. In this stage, farmers must take several vital steps to ensure food safety and quality.

Fruit Patio Section

Washing

In this step, a complex chain of cable systems within the pack house starts the de-handing process, the process of separating individual hands from the stalk (sraquis).The bunch is dehanded using a curved neck knife or bent bladed spatula, starting with the lower hands.

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Use clean pressurized water or water in a tank for about 15 minutes Add chlorine to the water and a smooth brush of matrix to remove the dried latex When cleaning, do not use materials that can dam- age the surface of the fruit.

Confirm that the fruit ripening is not advanced by selecting the literal finger from the second hand and splitting it in half.

De-hand the bunch using a sharp curved knife in a tank with clean and disinfected water.

Remove fruits that do not meet the desired specifications, like the size, damage by pests, and disease, others, from the tank and move to another tank.

Treatment  

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After cleaning the fruit, use a fungicide to protect against crown rot during storage and transportation.

Fungicides like Thiabendazole and Alum are used to protect fungus and bacteria that cause crown rot. The active ingredient in Thiabendazole is 2-4 (4-Triazolyl) Benzimidazole, and of Alum is (NH4) Al(SO4)2.

Other fungicides with similar functions are my- clobutanil and azoxystrobin.

Prepare the solution 24 hours before the packing day.

Clustering   

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Prepare the fruits into clusters of three to seven fingers, depending on the market specification, and place them in a banana tray.

Differentiate trays by size to accommodate large, medium or small bananas.

Disinfect the trays and areas where crown cutting, and deflowering took place to prevent the spread of fungus and bacteria, and ensure their proper healing.

Use stickers to label bunches with the brand identity before boxing.

Packaging 

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Packing specifications required by export markets include fruit quality, packing pattern, post-harvest treatment, and certification logos. Packing operations must prevent bruising of the fruits and minimize latex exudation.

Pack the export fruit in three to five packing rows, with each box containing a maximum of 15 clusters or 100 bananas.

Stamp the packed box with the packing plant identification number, location identification number, and pack date.

Shipment and Logistics Banana is a delicate fruit that requires proper care and handling. Where shipment and destination port are a considerable distance apart and result in prolonged transit time, controlled atmospheric environments ex- tend banana fruit shelf life by slowing down the ripening process during their transportation. The banana is “put to sleep� during transit.

These containers create and maintain the ideal blend of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the reefer, which slows down the respiration of the green banana throughout the voyage. As a result, they arrive at the destination in the perfect stage of the ripening process. Somalia’s strategic location provides a competitive ad- vantage compared to other banana exporting countries because of the port of Mogadishu.

Shipping times of more than 25 days are typical on some routes, but shorter times are ideal. After inspection at the destination port, ethylene gas is used to ripen the bananas over a four to five day period before transport to supermarkets.

Export Market Specification and Requirements Quality management certification is a requirement for many export markets. Somalia is working to establish agencies to regulate the health and safety of food products, including agricultural produce. National legislation and food safety standards are designed to ensure safe practice in all stages of the food supply chain.

Domestic and export companies, from the primary producers to retailers, must meet both market and regulatory standards.

A better understanding of markets, mainly the Turkish and Middle East markets, is key to the delivery of the right products. Banana producers and export companies must gear their products and supply chain to meet the relevant specifications, possible through the integration of an efficient quality management system. All business and marketing plans need a control process to monitor, evaluate, and modify the system as required. Consistent quality is the key to profitable banana production, the primary focus of this manual.

Some of the critical standards expected for an exporter to have include;  Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) version 5 or any latest version  Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)  Food Safety Management System(ISO 22,000)  Traceability systems  Organic certification for specific markets

Business Analysis Banana is a profitable venture, and most farmers profit from its production. The demand for banana is growing both in the domestic, regional, and international markets. Recently the global prices are on the rise, especially in the Middle East.

Exporters must always monitor global prices, but more importantly, before negotiating with a buyer.

Domestic market Prices at the domestic market are variable depending on seasons. The graph below shows the average quarterly prices of banana in Mogadishu.

International Market  

Prices at the global market are also variable with low prices reported between June and September every year.

Banana export is highly profitable for Somali farmers as the price is approximately 80 percent higher than when sold in domestic markets.

Overview of Global Banana Production and Markets 

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Bananas grow within 20 degrees of the Equator. Ideally, they require about 5cm of water a week, either through rainfall or irrigation. They grow best between temperatures of 26° and 30°C, with temperatures below 15° and above 37°C stunting growth. They thrive on fertile, well-drained soil and are not tolerant of salt.

Global exports of bananas reached 16.5 million tons in 2012, with exports accounting for only 15 percent and the rest consumed domestically. Although India is the largest producer of bananas, Ecuador is the largest exporter. Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Colombia are also significant exporters.

North America, Europe, Japan, and the Middle East are the main export markets for bananas.

Bananas are shipped green in refrigerated 40ft containers that store approximately 1,000 banana cartons each. For most markets, a carton of bananas weighs l40lbs or 18.2kg, but Japan and the Middle East use 13.5kg carton.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How uniform does the Tissue culture bananas plants are usually uniform since all plantlets are planting material need to be? of the same age.

Can we improve the potential Yes. It can achieve a significant increase yield of up to 45 percent as yield through tissue culture? the plantlets are free of disease.

What are the most common meth- ods for propagating plants?

How much does it cost to establish one hectare of banana plants?

Is banana a profitable crop?

Vegetative and tissue culture.

Approximately $3,200.

Yes. Farmers make an average of $11,000 per hectare.

How long does it take to Usually 9 months after the crop establishment. harvest banana?

What standards must farmers The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards regulate the global market, comply with? while other private market standards exist for the fruit sector.

Can Somalia export banana to Europe?

No, because of the stringent measures placed on the import of agricultural produce. However, with a regulatory mechanism strengthened by the Ministry of Agriculture and compliance to both sanitary and phytosanitary regulation by the producers, Somalia may be in a position to export bananas.

What is the phytosanitary certificate?

A document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, after inspection that indicates certification and compliance with the requirement of the importing country. .

This publication is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the USAID/Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment and Livelihoods (GEEL) project. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of International Resources Groups (a subsidiary of RTI) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. or the United States Government.

USAID KA TIMID DADWAYNAHA MARAYKANKA