Industry potential of bananas in Uganda

National Banana Research Program (NBRP) is focusing on identifying and developing banana products other than food to contribute to the country’s industrialization and export market.

Banana and its by-products are an excellent source of highly valuable raw materials for various industries. The raw materials can be sourced from the whole banana tree, from the corm, pseudo stem, leaves, male bud and fruit (peel and flesh). Currently, banana is only utilised for food using only the fruit flesh (20%) leading to the underutilisation of the banana and ultimately a huge amount of untapped biomass.

All this has industrial potential which will increase the economic benefits of banana and address the high cost of urban waste management presented by banana waste.

Banana can be utilized in several commercially viable in various food and non-food industrial applications and processes such as:

• Confectionery
• Colouring and flavour agents in foods and beverages;
• Livestock feed
• Textiles
• Pharmaceuticals
• Bio-fertilizers
• Bioenergy and
• Waste water treatment.

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