Chapters 8.48

8.48-Banana Value Addition in Africa

Jocelyn S. Wanders, University of Guelph, Canada

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Wanders S,J. (2022) Banana Value Addition in Africa,In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org

Brief Background of Crop

Bananas are indispensable to a human’s daily nutrition intake in many parts of the world today, particularly to those dwelling in Africa. Bananas in Africa can, and often do, provide, “up to 25% of the daily calorie intake” (FAO, 2018). Aside from that, they hold great potential to create additional income for subsistence farmers. There are four types of bananas, and each type provides its own possibilities for value additions. The four types of bananas are: cooking bananas, roasting bananas, brewing (juice) bananas and dessert bananas (Rietveld, Mpiira & Karamura, 2013). Within these types, there are hundreds of varieties. In addition to the potential of the banana itself, the banana tree and leaves offer even more ways to establish a secondary source of income for subsistence farmers.

Value Addition Ideas

Banana beer

One of the most common bananas today in Africa is the East Africa Highland Banana (EAHB). The EAHB feeds 80 million people - that is how vital it is to a typical African diet (IITA Nigeria). Due to its popularity, the EAHB is the perfect banana to use to create an additional income for a subsistence farmer through the production of banana beer. Already a source of additional income to many subsistence farmers, banana beer production is ideal due to its low cost of production and reasonable selling price at market. Banana beer production is also relatively simple, in comparison to the other banana value additions that will be discussed further on.

The first step a farmer must take in the production of banana beer is to harvest their bananas (or a part of the banana crop) early, when the bananas are still green. Then, the farmer must forcibly cause those bananas to ripen, which should be done by placing them in a heated environment. There are two popular ways to ripen the bananas for beer making. The first is to dig a pit, put the green bananas in the pit, and cover them back up with banana leaves. The second option is to pile the bananas above a cooking hearth (ProMusa, 2016). This ripening process will take approximately six days, and when the bananas are ripe, they will appear yellow. Ensuring that the bananas are properly ripened is key, for the banana beer will not turn out properly otherwise. Once the bananas are ripe and yellow, they will go into a fermentation vessel, where they will be kneaded with some sort of spear grass, until the juice of the bananas can be extracted. This juice should then be diluted with water at a ratio of one volume of water to three volumes of juice (Azam-Ali, 2008). Once the water and juice is mixed, a roasted cereal flour should be added to the mixture (typically sorghum). This thicker mixture is then added to a fermentation vessel again and covered. This will then be left to ferment for 18 to 24 hours. Once fermented, it can be filtered and poured into jars and brought to market. Given the relatively short shelf life of banana beer, it should be taken to market as quickly as possible. Making banana beer is efficient because only a knife, a cotton cloth to filter the final product, and a fermentation vessel are required (Azam-Ali, 2008). These items can be purchased by an individual or, to bring the costs down, by a group of people.

For most subsistence farmers, the most ideal target market is their own community. Many women who produce banana beer act as “grower, brewer and retailer” (ProMusa, 2016). Because many women have young children at home, setting up a small bar in or near their home is the most ideal option. Studies show that beer banana growers can earn approximately $6.00/ month and a jerry can of banana beer can sell anywhere from $2.00USD to $4.00USD (Rietveld, Mpiira, Jogo, Staver, & Karamura, 2013).

Banana wine

Another drink that can be produced using bananas is banana wine. Banana wine is especially popular in Uganda (Watsemwa, 2017). It is made from overripe bananas that are commonly just tossed away. Overripe bananas contain high levels of sugar, so they are ideal to be used in the making of wine. In the African Journal of Biotechnology, several authors outline exactly what is required to produce one gallon of wine. They write, “2 kg of dessert or cooking banana pulp and ¼ kg of the peel is required, in addition to 1.5 kg of granulated sugar, 4.5 litres of water and a few drops of yeast extract. Juice of one grape, one lemon, and sweet orange may be required to serve as yeast nutrient” (Adeniji, Tenkouano, Ezurike, Ariyo & Vroh-Bi, 2010). In order to produce wine, the ingredients will have to go through two processes of fermentation. Exact steps to producing wine can be found in the article published in the African Journal of Biotechnology, listed below under ‘Helpful Links’.

The target market of banana wine is quite similar to banana beer: local markets, roadsides, and village and urban beer clubs (Rivard, 2009). For an approximate idea of how much banana wine can be sold for, one 320 mL bottle of wine in Rwanda could sell (in groceries stores) for $0.50USD, in 2016 (Douglas, 2016).

Banana juice

Banana juice is another drink that can be produced from bananas (specifically overripe ones) (Murori, 2016), though it is less popular than the production of banana beer, and does not generate the sort of income banana wine would (Watsemwa, 2017). A combined need for additional income and a desire to reduce banana waste has caused an explosion of interest in making banana juice (Kibui, 2015). A link to a detailed explanation of how to produce banana juice is listed below, under ‘Helpful Links’. The process is very similar to the first steps in making banana beer; it requires extracting a pure substance from ripe bananas, using a spear grass to produce this substance. Like beer and wine, the ideal market for this juice is the local markets and surrounding communities.

Banana chips and flour

Bananas can also be used to produce banana chips and banana flour. There is an opening in the market for banana chips, and due to their relatively simple production, this represents a good value addition idea. A video posted below under ‘Helpful Links’ shows a woman describing the steps of making banana chips. Banana flour, made from a green cooking banana, is a gluten free product, which will increase its value on the market. Banana flour also has an extensive shelf life compared to many other banana products, so that greatly increases its value for farmers who cannot get to the market in a small amount of time (IITA, 2008). However, the cost of making banana flour is high compared to other value addition ideas. The magazine The Organic Farmer provides step by step instructions for producing banana flour, as well as banana jam and banana juice. This information can be accessed through their website, which is listed under ‘Helpful Links’ (The Organic Farmer, 2015).

Banana peels as animal feed

In making edible items such as banana flour and banana chips, the peels are not necessary and are usually discarded. Therefore, coming up with ways to use the excess peels has been a topic of research. Studies have found that banana peels (and in some cases, even the leaves) can be used as feed for goats, especially during the dry season (Nuruddin, 2014, Babatunde). Goats are the most affordable and common animal for African families (FAO, 2018) so using the ‘waste’ of a banana for feed can literally be life changing. Goats can also eat bananas that are not quite fit for human consumption or market sales. Studies on bananas and their peels for goat (livestock) feed are ongoing.

Banana fiber

Another significant value addition product from bananas is the fiber that can be extracted from the tree trunk, once the bananas have been harvested (Obi, 2016). This fiber – which regularly goes to waste - can actually be used to make wrapping paper (Ramdhonee & Jeetah, 2017), paper bags and crafts (CGTN Africa, 2017), and most importantly, sanitary napkins for women all across Africa! Extensive work has been done by multiple groups and companies to find a way to design these sanitary napkins (Hello Tomorrow, 2017). Two university students from the U.K. worked with farmers from Rwanda to develop the following system: after using a knife to create stringy fibre from the trunk, they suggest drying the fibre in the sun. Then, a paste is made from the mixture of paper and water. Once this is made, the fibre is added to the mix. Then, the mix is cooked and dried in the sun. The result is an absorbent paper that can be used primarily as a sanitary napkin for women, and also as nappies for their babies (CGTN Africa, 2015). The women producing these products can either use these napkins for themselves, sell them, or both.

Banana-based soap

One final value addition idea t is the production of Black African soap that can be made from the leaves of banana and plantain trees. Black African soap is famous for how well it takes care of the skin, and it would have an extensive shelf life, so it would be ideal to take to market for extra income. In her article for the Mother Nature Network, author Jennifer Nelson describes the process of making soap in its simplest terms. She shares that, “the ingredients are sun-dried and roasted… water and oils… are then added. The soap is then left to sit and ‘cure’” (Nelson, 2015).

Critical Analysis

When deciding on which value addition to implement in an area, the most important concept to keep in mind is what banana type is available and what sort of community one is working with. If only one farmer is looking to improve his/ her income, something easily attainable for one person, like banana beer, would be a good choice. However, if there is an entire community seeking to increase their income, then creating crafts, bags or sanitary napkins would be ideal, for with combined funding the possibilities would be greater. Crafts and other items made out of banana fiber are expensive and labour intensive (Hendriksz, 2017).

The target market is also an important factor that can only be looked at when dealing with each individual case. If an extremely remote farmer is seeking improve his/her income, choosing a value addition with a long shelf life – such as wine, soap, or sanitary pads – would be best, so that they have time to make it to market before the product expires. An individual farmer would benefit most from making jam or soap, items that can be produced with minimal equipment. A group of extremely remote farmers could significantly benefit from investing in producing sanitary napkins as a whole – so determining how to add value must be done on a case by case basis.

Helpful Links to Get Started

Banana Beer

https://www.ctc-n.org/sites/www.ctc-n.org/files/resources/4f561d67-1e24-47e9-b72a-4b080ae4f5bb.pdf

http://www.promusa.org/blogpost479-The-beer-bananas-of-East-Africa

http://distillique.co.za/distilling_shop/17-fermentation-equipment

http://www.theorganicfarmer.org/Articles/enhancing-banana-farming-adding-value

Banana Wine:

https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJB/article-full-text-pdf/9A86FF827613

Banana Juice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPABx21eZw

Banana Flour:

https://www.accessagriculture.org/making-banana-flour

Banana Chips:

http://www.westafricacooks.com/africa/banana-chips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L-KhQ4a0MM

Animal Feed:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0554E/T0554E17.htm

Fibre:

https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/banana-fiber-extracting-machine.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxszRlN8V7M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRU74ovJSPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5bRMQNJLso

Soap:

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/what-is-african-black-soap

References

1. Adeniji, T.A., Tenkouano, A., Ezurike, J. N., Ariyo, C. O., & Vroh-Bi, I. (2010). Value-adding post harvest processing of cooking bananas (Musa spp. AAB and ABB genome groups). African Journal of Biotechnology, 9(54), 9135-9141. Retrieved from https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJB/article-abstract/9A86FF827613.

2. Azam Ali, S. (March, 2008). Banana Beer. Warwickshire, United Kingdom: Practical Action. Retrieved from https://www.ctc-n.org/sites/www.ctc-n.org/files/resources/4f561d67-1e24-47e9-b72a-4b080ae4f5bb.pdf.

3. Babatunde, G. M. (1991). Availability of banana and plantain products for animal feeding. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0554E/T0554E17.htm.

4. Dividich, J. L., Geoffroy, F., Canope, I., & Chenost, M. (n.d). Using waste bananas as animal feed. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Animal Review. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/x6512e/X6512E10.htm?fbclid=IwAR3tG5yLUJmyrsfbuCJ-MDg-hDKzr1qmg0HUYlhxBUu5EdL04bpjNbaVtwQ. (Retrieved on Nov. 8, 2018).

5. Douglas, Kate. (2016, October 25). Early investors score big time with Rwandan banana wine. How We Made it in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/early-investors-score-big-time-rwandan-banana-wine/56437/.

6. Dubois, T., & Oliver, J. (2008, October 11). African banana farmers urged to cash in on local markets. IITA Nigeria. Retrieved from http://www.iita.org/news-item/african-banana-farmers-urged-cash-local-markets/.

7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2018). Banana Facts and Figures. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/bananas/bananafacts/en/#.W-nsCJNKjIV.

8. FAO Corporate Document Repository. (2018) Major livestock production systems in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ilri/x5547e/x5547e0o.htm.

9. Hendriksz, V. (2017, August 28). Sustainable Textile Innovations: Banana Fibres. Fashion United. Retrieved from https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/sustainable-textile-innovations-banana-fibre/2017082825623.

10. IITA: Transforming African Agriculture. (n.d) Banana & Plantain. Retrieved from http://www.iita.org/crops/banana-plantain/.

11. Kibui, R. (2015, July 31). Kenyan stirring ‘banana revolution’ beyond the borders. Daily Nation. Retrieved from https://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/-Kenyan-stirring-banana-revolution-beyond-the-borders/-/2301238/2815942/-/8jxy59/-/index.html.

12. Mohan, C. (2018, March 26). Banana Fibre for Eco-Friendly Sanitary Towels. Krishijagran.com. Retrieved from https://krishijagran.com/news/banana-fibre-for-eco-friendly-sanitary-towels/.

13. Murori, K. (2016, June 14). How African Farmers Use Creativity to Cut Back on Banana Waste. The African Exponent. Retrieved from https://www.africanexponent.com/post/7288-african-farmers-use-creativity-to-cut-back-on-banana-waste.

14. Nelson, J. (2015, September 3). What is African Black Soap? MNN.com. Retrieved from https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/what-is-african-black-soap.

15. Nuruddin, A. (April, 2014). Nutritive Value of Banana Peels as Feed for Goats. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/3tnqjbko-pal/nutritive-value-of-banana-peels-as-feed-for-goats/?fbclid=IwAR1-aWokJzBu82vUCcQ0rGKC-S4NNbn4Gs9cgWShvgSK_CuoE0grQ6fsM40.

16. Obi, L. (2016, June 10). Mats, bags… you can make so much from banana waste. Daily Nation. Retrieved from https://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/Many-uses-of-banana-waste-fibres/2301238-3243276-149x6dlz/index.html.

17. ProMusa. (December, 2016). The beer bananas of East Africa. Biodiversity International. Retrieved from http://www.promusa.org/blogpost479-The-beer-bananas-of-East-Africa.

18. Ramdhonee, A., & Jeetah, P. (2017, October). Production of wrapping paper from banana fibres. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 5 (5), 4298 – 4306.

19. Rietveld, Anne & Mpiira, Samuel & Jogo, Wellington & Staver, Charles & Karamura, Eldad. (2013). The beer banana value chain in central Uganda. 191-201. 10.1079/9781780642314.0191. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263594460_The_beer_banana_value_chain_in_central_Uganda.

20. Rivard, Dominic. (September, 2009). Banana wine in East Africa. The Daily Fruit Wine. Retrieved from http://www.dailyfruitwine.com/2009/09/banana-wine-in-east-africa/.

21. The Organic Farmer. (2017, November 2). Banana production has good income if done well. The Organic Farmer. Retrieved from http://theorganicfarmer.org/Articles/banana-production-has-good-income-if-done-well.

22. Tolera, A., Merkel, R. C., Goetsch, A. L., Sahlu, T. & Negesse, T. (n.d). Nutritional Constraints and Future Prospects for Goat Production in East Africa. Debub University, Awassa College of Agriculture, Awassa, Ethiopia, E (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA. Retrieved from http://www.luresext.edu/sites/default/files/NUTRITIONAL%20CONSTRAINTS%20AND%20FUTURE%20PROSPECTS%20FOR%20GOAT%20PRODUCTION%20IN%20EAST%20AFRICA.pdf.

23. Watsemwa, E. (2017, January 15). There is a lot we can get from banana. Daily Monitor. Retrieved from http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Farming/There-is-a-lot-we-can-get-from-banana/689860-3517390-format-xhtml-5y6iv7z/index.html.