Abstract:

This study was carried out to analyze production systems and assess profitability of bananas in Uganda. Eighty three percent of the farmers intercropped bananas, ranging from single (31%) to over four crops (17%). Major inter-cropping systems were banana/coffee (33%), banana/beans (33%) and banana/yams (15%). Limited access to productive land and labour were some of the reasons why farmers intercropped. Farm sizes averaged 2.9 ha. Sixty-nine percent and 42% of the farmers had less than 2 ha and 1 ha respectively. On average, 0.68 ha were allocated to bananas in pure stand and 1.2 ha in mixed stand. In terms of food, bananas ranked first followed by cassava, beans and sweet potatoes. In terms of cash, more income was got from bananas followed by coffee, and beans. Crops contributed 58% of the total household income. Bananas accounted for 68% of farmers’income received from crops. Weevil damage, access to infrastructure and off-farm income had a significant influence on banana productivity. Differences in levels of management also had an effect on farm level profitability of bananas. Profitability indicators showed bananas to be more profitable than annual food crops (maize, sweet potatoes, cassava and groundnuts). However, coffee was more profitable (1.9) than bananas and other cropping systems, namely maize/beans (1.4), maize (0.9), beans (1.1), sweet potatoes (1.1), cassava (1.2) and groundnuts (1.2)