Apple banana: Product profile No.

Product: Apple banana or baby banana or lady finger

HSC Code: 080300
Specie: Musa paradisiaca
Main seasons: All year round
Mode of transport: By Air
International Price: $ 2.98 per kg (2003)

INTRODUCTION
The baby banana, or Musa paradisiaca, is one of more than 300 varieties of banana grown worldwide.
It is produced in Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, and South Asia where it is used extensively in
ethnic dishes. Apple bananas makes a major contribution to Uganda’s economy. Production is mainly
by small-scale farmers who benefit from improved incomes and nutrition in the homes. The crop
fruits all-year-round. The apple banana is small (8-12 cm in length; 60-80 g in weight), creamier, and
sweeter than other banana varieties. It is also known as the finger banana, bananito in Spanish, and
due to its distinct apple flavor, the apple banana.

Main uses of apple bananas: It is commonly peeled and eaten in raw form, and can be sliced and
added to fruit salads. It is used as baby food, dessert or snack or figs and flakes when dried.

A comprehensive
study of consumer
preferences as they
relate to the degree
of ripeness of
bananas was
conducted by
Crossley, S-D
Surveys, Inc. The
results clearly
indicate that
maximum sales are
achieved by the
display of fruit in
the yellow stages as
96% of the
consumers prefer
fruit in the #4 to #7
color range.

UEPB Product Profile on Apple Banana, No 2, 2005 1

Product specification: Clean, free of blemishes, 6 - 9 fingers per head, should be same size, origin
and of even ripening stage. While 96% consumers prefer display of fruit in ripening stages #4 to #7,
apple bananas are usually exported at #1, when they are still green. This allows for the time lag
between transportation from origin until the bananas reach the display shelf.

PRODUCTION
Estimate d Production of De sse rt Bananas in Uganda, Dessert bananas consist of (Apple
2000-2004 bananas-Ndiizi and Gros Michel-
600 Bogoya) in Uganda increased
582 between 2000 and 2002. Production
580 572 decline in 2003 and 2004 was
mainly attributed to the Fusarium
Volume ('000 tons)

560 555
wilt, which affected the dessert
541 banana types (Apple bananas-Ndiizi
540 and Gros Michel-Bogoya). The
disease wiped out whole plantations
520 514
in the major growing areas and the
infected banana plants had to be
500
uprooted.
480
Major growing areas are Masaka,
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Mbale, Mbarara, Bushenyi,
Source: MAAIF & AMA Analysis
Mubende, Luweero and Wakiso.

General information
Apple banana requires a deep, well-drained loam soils with high humus content and a pH range of 5.6-
7.5 is optimum. Nitrogen and potassium are required in considerable amounts to maintain high yields.
Cultivar: Apple banana is one of the exotic cultivars (Sukali Ndiizi, AB).
Planting materials: These should be obtained from healthy plantation (free of soil borne - diseases
and pests). Planting material should first be treated to remove or kill pests in the corm and roots.
Micro propagated plants (tissue culture plants) are the best alternatives for pest/disease free planting
material.

Planting: Planting should be done at the beginning of rainy season, as banana suckers need 4 - 6
months of growth without water stress. Spacing is 3 x 3 m, (1110 plants/Ha). The sucker is placed in a
pit of 30 x 30 cm and its corm is covered, first with topsoil, mixed with manure, and then topped up
with the sub-soil. If the land is sloping, the sucker should be so oriented that the future ratoon
emerges against the slope. This will delay development of high mat.
Pruning: Sucker removal is carried out to maintain the appropriate plant density to reduce
competition for water, light and nutrients. A mat of 3 plants is ideal, a mother, one daughter, and one
grand daughter. Select easterly facing suckers to maximize on morning sunshine. Unwanted suckers
should be cut at 5 - 10 cm below the ground with a spear-like tool.
Fertilizers: A lot of nutrients taken up by the banana go into the fruit (bunch), which is harvested thus
taking away nutrients, therefore addition of fertilizer, organic or inorganic is very important. The most
essential ones include: nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) are required in high demand, while
phosphorous (P), magnesium (mg) and calcium (Ca) are vital but required in small quantities. Organic
materials can be applied 45 cm (1.5ft) from the mat or be ploughed in the soil.
Weeding: Weeds will compete with bananas for nutrients and water, keep the plantation weed free.
This can be by hand, by hoe or herbicide. Mulch helps in suppressing weeds by chocking established

UEPB Product Profile on Apple Bananas No. 1, 2005 2

weeds and denying light to those that require it for germination. Mulching used includes banana plant
residues, annual crop residues like maize stovers and bean trash or elephant grass.
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes: They live and feed inside roots and corms thus destroying them. A root or corm damaged by
nematodes shows reddish-purple lesions or patches (necrosis) when split or peeled. Necrosis interferes
with water and nutrient movement into the plant leading to toppling.
Weevils: The larva is the destructive stage; it feeds and tunnels into banana corms and pseudo stems,
hence, interfering with water and nutrient uptake. Weevil infestation causes stunting in growth,
delayed fruiting, small bunches and toppling of plants. Nematodes and weevils can be controlled by
using clean planting materials, proper field management, trapping of weevils, chemical applications
like Furadan and or resistant varieties from tissue culture or biological agents like fungal pathogens.
(Biological control agents are not fully developed for use).
Pathogens: These can be fungal, bacterial, or viral. Diseases include leaf spots (black and yellow
sigatoka), Banana streak virus, Fusarium wilt (Toduula) and Bacterial wilt. Control is by using proper
cultural practices and resistant cultivars.
Water requirements: If the plantation is on steep slope, dig trenches of 60 cm (2 ft) wide and 60 cm
(2 ft) deep across the slope, putting soil on upper side of the trench and grow grass on top for
stablisation of the soil. They should be 10 - 20 m apart. Grass bunds (Vetiver grass) could be used
instead of trenches or it can be grown on top of the soil bunds.
Harvesting: The fruit is allowed to mature on the plant as fully as possible so as to develop a good
flavor and sweetness. Harvest preferably early morning and avoid the bunches touching the
ground/soil.. While de-handing, avoid pricking, cutting or damaging the fruit in any way and allow the
latex to drain.
Yield: The yield of bananas in a year ranges between 5.5 tons per Ha in subsistence production regime
and 41.3 tons per Ha in rehabilitated high-input production regime. Banana yields decline due to a
number of factors; mainly declining soil fertility, increased pest pressure, disease incidence and
severity, generally poor field management and prolonged drought periods.
Post-harvest handling: Bananas often have to be stored for a few hours or days and at different
points in the marketing chain, before they are finally sold. It is important to keep the fruits cool during
storage. In major exporting countries, refrigeration is often used during storage and transport, to
ensure a long shelf life and good quality. Where cold storage is not available, bananas must be stored
in a well-ventilated place out of the sun. The fruits should not be exposed to direct sunlight or kept in
heap. Bananas must not be stored where there is smoke or exhaust gases since they quicken ripening.
Packaging: The packaging is in perforated polythene bags of 3kg pack is suitable for 9 clusters of
larger fruit (12 - 15 cm lengthy fruit, where as 3.5 kgs pack is achieved with 12 clusters and of shorter
fruit 10 - 12 cm length).

UEPB Product Profile on Apple Bananas No. 1, 2005 3

Production Costs
Indicative cost of production of Apple Banana per hectare per annum.
Cost Item/Activity Subsistence (Un- Low input High input (Use of
rehabilitated) (Rehabilitated) fertilizer)
Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial
(Shs/Ha) (Shs/Ha) (Shs/Ha)
A. Inputs
Suckers
Fertilizers (Kg) 300 252,000
Pesticides eg Furadan (Kg)
10 100,000
Mulch 250,000 250,000
Implements (consolidated &
depreciation) 4,500 8,000 10,000
Miscellaneous (transport, etc) 3,000 7,500 10,000
Sub total for input 7,500 265,500 622,000
B. Labor (Person-days)
Land Clearing
Land preparation/Ploughing
Planting
Application of Pesticides 8 40,000
Application of fertilizers 20 100,000
Weeding and pruning 60 300,000 40 200,000 40 200,000
Mulching 5 25,000 5 25,000
Harvesting 55 110,000 93 186,000 115 230,000
Sub total for labour 115 410,000 138 411,000 188 595,000

C. Cost of Establishment (depreciated) 12% 49,200 11% 45,210 7% 41,650

Total cost of production (Shs/ha) 466,700 721,710 1,258,650
Yields
Yields (Bunches/Ha) 450 925 1,188
Yield (Kg/Ha) 2,250 9,250 17,820
Unit cost of production (Shs/Kg) 207 78 71
Current farm gate price (Shs/Kg) 125 150 167
Profit or Loss (Shs/Kg) -82 72 96
D. Profitability
Gross value of output (Shs/Ha) 281,250 1,387,500 2,970,000
Net income (Shs/Ha) -185,450 665,790 1,711,350
Output to input ratio 0.60 1.92 2.36

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MARKETING
Global Market
Apple bananas are exported to Europe for the ethnic market especially in UK and Holland. Apple
bananas appeal to small ethnic groups and gourmet consumers. Demand for the product is not
widespread apart from niche markets. A few companies are exporting dried bananas to overcome the
high freight costs and low shelf life of apple bananas. The market for dried bananas was not yet
satisfied, hence an opportunity to further supply this market. Some companies sell their products
under the organic label and thus able to get a premium for organic apple bananas.

The Volume and Value of Apple Banana Exports from Uganda, Smaller specialty and
0.18 2000-2003 0.45 “ethnic” produce
0.42 importers who carry the
0.16 0.40 product receive
shipments by air, and

Value in million dollars

0.14 0.35
Volume in tons ('000)

carrying it not for

0.12 0.30 profitability, but rather
to offer a wider variety
0.10 0.25 of exotics. To avoid
0.18 0.18 having to join the
0.08 0.20
regime, smaller
0.06 0.15 importers have resorted
0.09 to bringing in baby
0.04 0.10
bananas in mixed
0.02 0.05 container loads, or
0.11 0.07 0.15 0.12 listed as other items on
- - their commercial
2,000 2,001 2,002 2,003 invoices, despite the
Source: IDEA Project,FHL, Hortexa and CAA Volume Value legal risks of doing so.

Despite importing complications, wholesalers do not have problems meeting demand for baby bananas
because consumption of the product is both minimal and stable. A typical retailer in the UK carrying
baby bananas will sell just 1–2 cases per week.

Trade figures for apple bananas are combined with those of Cavendish bananas, rendering it difficult
to determine the market size for this particular commodity. Of the 750,000 MTs of bananas imported
annually into the EU, for example, it is estimated that no more than 1 percent are apple bananas.
These numbers are assumed to have decreased in recent years as restrictions associated with the EU
banana regime resulted in a struggling market for baby bananas. Under the regime, importers are
required to obtain a special license to take bananas into the EU

Suppliers

Major suppliers to the EU include Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador. UK buyers in particular receive
most of their baby bananas from Colombia and Ecuador, with some shipments from West Africa.
Volumes tend to be small and are often combined with other exotic produce. The potential markets
for Uganda include: U.K., Holland, Middle East, South Africa and Kenya.

UEPB Product Profile on Apple Bananas No. 1, 2005 5

Prices

Price Trend for Ugandan Apple Bananas in New Spitalfields Wholesale Market, 2001-2003 UK prices for air-
3.60
imported baby bananas
3.40 from Uganda averaged
$2.98 per kg in 2003.
3.20
It was slightly higher
Price U S$/K g

3.00 than the 2002 average

of $2.91. Retailers
2.80
report that a bunch
2.60 (roughly six bananas)
2.40
will cost around £1.29
($1.83) in the UK.
2.20
Jan Feb M ar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Source: Food Surveys UK 2002 2003

Wholesale prices for Figure 2: Average Dutch Wholesale Prices for

baby bananas shipped to Ecuadorean Baby Bananas
the EU by air were $6.00
consistent throughout $5.00
2003. Ecuadorian baby
$4.00
bananas were at $4.85 to
US$ per kg

$5.50 per kg (Refer to $3.00

Figure 2). On average, $2.00
these prices were greater
than in 2002 and 2001, $1.00
but not significantly. $0.00
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Source: ITC/MNS 2001 2002 2003

UEPB Product Profile on Apple Bananas No. 1, 2005 6

EXPORTERS OF APPLE BANANAS
1. Tropical Ecological Foods (U) Ltd (TEFU)
5km Namutamba - Bulera Road Lubanja
P.O. Box 310, Mityana, Uganda
Tel: 256 75 623439, 077 430988, 077 749624
E-mail:kibirigesegalye@yahoo.com
Dissing@africaonline.co.ug
3. Jacksons (U) Ltd.
Plot 43 Nkrumah Road
P.O. Box 5841, Kampala
Tel: 256 41 251410, 075 696825, 077436563
Fax: 256 41 251410
E-mail: kavumajohn@yahoo.com
5. Sera Growers
Plot 133 Katwe, Kibalama Building
P.O. Box 71363, Kampala
Tel: 256 77 406098
Fax: 256 41 345502
7. Flona Commodities Ltd.
Plot 2331 Ntinda Kigowa Road
Tel: 256 41 287119, 077 409557
Fax: 256 41 256888
E-mail: abdul214@yahoo.com
9. Naami Farms
Nalukolongo, Masaka Road,
P.O. Box 16132, Wandegeya
Tel: 256 772 406527, 256 772 443457
Fax: 256 41 540049
E-mail: naamifarm@yahoo.com
11. Coseda Enterprises
P.O. Box 10487, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256 41 259558, 077 419357
E-mail: coseda@hotmail.com
13. Tropiexports
P.O. Box 10289 Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256 77 506623
Fax: 256 31 275980
E-mail: kasoziap@yahoo.com
UEPB Product Profile on Apple Bananas No. 1, 2005
2. Mukono Growers & Packers
Plot 22 Mukono Town
P.O. Box 284, Mukono
Tel: 256 41 290210, 075 692933
Fax: 256 41 321419
E-mail: mukonogrowers@yahoo.com
4. Batamala Enterprises (U) Ltd
Natete - Nalukolongo Masaka Rd
P.O. Box 11336, Kampala
Tel: 256 75 636582
Fax: 256 41 290211
6. Buddu Enterprises Ltd.
Plot 376 Namirembe
P.O. Box 12424, Kampala
Fax: 256 41 236114, 349919
8. African Organic /AMFRI Farms Ltd.
Plot 11 Matry's Road, Ntinda Housing
P.O. Box 29078, Kampala
Tel: 256 41 286690/1
Fax: 256 41286692
Email: amfri@infocom.co.ug
10. Lusaka Growers
Plot 970, Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road,
P.O. Box 8742, Kampala, Uganda,
Tel: 256-41-543081/ 256-77-367386
Fax: 256-41-530200
Email: gabiro@hotmail.com
12. Sulmafoods
P.O. Box 6046 Kampala - Uganda
Tel: 256 41 570637, 077 502350
Fax: 256 41 273649
E-mail: sulma_foods@yahoo.com
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IMPORTERS OF APPLE BANANAS
1. Agrolon Ltd.,
Wettern house, Dingwall Road, Croydon,
Survey CR0 0XH
Tel: +44(0) 181 681 6978
Fax: +44 (00 181 681 3605
3. Exotic farm produce ltd.
Mani Estate, Skeldyke Road, Kirton,
Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 1LR UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1205 725500
Fax: +44 (0) 1205 722691
5. Malet Azoulay UK Ltd.,
West Marsh Road, Spalding, Lines. PE11
2BD
Tel: +44 (0) 1775 711565
Fax: +44 (0) 1775 711571
7. Paul’s Fruit & Vegetables,
Tel: +44 (0) 1162 557691
Fax: +44 (0) 1162 557672
9. Eurofresh Fruit & Vegetables Limited
P.O Box 20619
Idaliou Street 1010 Lefkosia
Cyprus
Tel: +357 (22) 48 95 10
Fax: +357 (22) 48 95 20
UEPB Product Profile on Apple Bananas No. 1, 2005
2. Caribbean International
Hoogkarspelstraat 139
25-47 Den Haag
Holland
Tel: +31 703639999
Email: caribbean@wanadoo.nl
4. FARMGATE EXOTICS
The Old Malthouse
Clarence Street, Bath BA1 5NS, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 460289
Email: farmexotic@hotmail.com
6. Agrexco Agriculture Export Co. Ltd,
Carmel House, Clayton Road,
Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 1AX.
Tel: 0181 848 7788
Fax: 0181 848 1106
8. Shipleys Fruit & Vegetables
Upton Ct Rd Slough SL3 7LU
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (1753) 52 51 55
Fax: +44 (1753) 52 51 55
10. Bos Brothers Fruit & Vegetables BV
Amersgat 17 PB 151 3151 ZJ Hoek Van
Holland
Netherlands
Tel: +31 (174) 53 14 44
Fax: +31 (174) 51 07 25
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