'Banana Republic'

Not only are bananas the world’s favourite fruit they are the oldest domesticated food crop and fourth most important staple (basic nutritious food in a traditional and typically poorer diet). If all the bananas grown around the world every year were placed end to end, they would circle the earth two thousand times! Only rice, wheat and maize feed more people.

Banana growing in Uganda is estimated to date way back to 13 A.D. The people of Uganda attach strong cultural, social and economic values to the growth and production of bananas. Uganda is often referred to as the Banana Republic, producing over 8.6 million metric tonnes (30% of world’s production) and is a leading producer and consumer. 90% of what is produced is consumed locally.

With well over a hundred different species of bananas grown in Uganda here are just some of the types we may try; musa sapient, musa paradisca, musa accuminata and musa balbisiana. Whilst we are in Uganda we will definitely be trying matoke (steamed green banana) and plantain (sweet desert banana).

- Rosie