Bananas are grown in many regions of Uganda but on a subsistence level, the leading growers being in Western Uganda producing 66% followed by Central Uganda at 25%.
Bananas can be consumed in different forms depending on the type. They can be roasted, steamed, eaten as dessert or drunk as local brew extracted from bananas. Bananas are eaten all year round, with peak and off-peak seasons.
However, due to changes in agronomical practices, increasing hazards, calamities and the negative effects of climate change, many farmers can no longer achieve the anticipated targets.
As a result, farmers have to a big extent abandoned banana farming, which has caused a reduction in production levels. The traditionally known production areas of bananas have shifted to growing other food crops.
TRAC FM is working with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to run a radio campaign aimed at disseminating Information on good agricultural practices that support increased banana productivity. This will translate into more food and higher incomes for many farmers. The project is specifically targeting farmers in Isingiro, Nakaseke, Bunyangabo and beyond.
The Banana Agronomy radio project will run for six weeks on three radio stations; Voice of Kamwenge, Radio West and CBS. Each radio station will run six poll questions- one per week and an estimated 18,000 responses will be generated during that period.
