Potential challenges facing macropropagation technique in banana

Abstract

Objective: Bananas (Musa spp) are an important crop for food security, income for small holders and fodder among other uses. Banana production is greatly constrained by lack of affordable clean planting material. Macropropagation technique has been proposed as a more cost effective method for producing healthy seedlings. This paper reports on some factors that could pose challenges to adoption of this technology in Kenya. Methodology and results: As part of a wider study to evaluate the feasibility of introducing macropropagation to banana growers in central and Eastern Kenya, observations were made on farmer perceptions and other factors encountered during implementation. Farmers appreciate that macropropagation is an inexpensive technology that can produce large quantities of good quality seedlings. However, one factor that could limit its adoption in the target areas is unavailability of corms for propagation. It was noted that farmers are not willing to remove the maiden corms for macropropagation because they perceivethis as a loss of the bunch that would have been harvested. Currently many farmers in the target region are not in dire need of planting materials as the plantations that have been managed well are in a good state with little need for replanting. Limited availability of land also implies demand for seedlings to expand plantations is low. The labor required for the macropropagation procedure is an additional challenge in some areas. Some tasks such as soil and sawdust sterilization, chamber construction and maintenance, corm handling, among others, require considerable amounts of labor. In some areas competition of the available labor with other higher wage activities is a hindrance to successful uptake of this technology. For example men prefer to participate in loading trucks with banana bunches or operating motorcycle taxis, rather than the relatively les paying menial tasks in nurseries.