Banana value chain development: IPMS experience in Metema
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The document summarizes IPMS's experience introducing banana cultivation to smallholder farmers in Metema, Ethiopia. Initial interventions included introducing a high-yielding banana variety, training farmers, and organizing women's and youth groups. Follow-up found farmers expanding production and a market emerging. Actions were taken to improve productivity, develop marketing groups, and address challenges like disease and transportation. Currently banana is widely grown, though road infrastructure and collective action are still needed to better access larger markets. The experience shows that resource-based, participatory approaches integrating market orientation can effectively promote smallholder development.
Banana value chain development: IPMS experience in Metema
- 1. Banana Value Chain Development IPMS Experience in Metema Kahsay Berhe Market-Oriented Smallholder Development: IPMS Experience-Sharing Workshop ILRI, Addis Ababa, 2-3 June 2011
- 2. Outline Introduction Initial interventions Follow up, observations and lessons Actions taken Current status Outstanding challenges Opportunities Summary
- 3. Why banana? Suitable agro-ecology Adequate perennial rivers Poor quality local cultivar Willing farmers
- 4. Good potential market because it can effectively compete with the high priced banana coming from Arba Minch … and the most important reason was
- 5. Introduction of banana Introduced the desired cultivar (Dwarf Cavendish) to a willing farmer and OoA nursery Organized field days to raise awareness which created demand
- 6. Introduction of banana…… Farmers contributed money to purchase suckers Facilitated the purchase and transport of suckers along with OoA
- 7. From introduction to expansion Training of DAs (ToT) banana production by a senior regional BoA staff Women and youth groups organized to establish banana plantation Farmer field days/festivals Audio visual “ irrigated banana development in Metema ” used to spread knowledge to farmers in other PAs Annual irrigation day Suitability map prepared Enabling environment Created market contacts with traders in Gondar and Bahir Dar Farmer to farmer sucker supply
- 8. Farmer to farmer sucker supply
- 9. Continuous follow-up, observing, learning … Farmers purchased many water pumps Farmer to farmer sucker supply system well established– no need for external inputs Demand for suckers from neighboring Woredas increased Banana is currently grown in many neighbouring woredas and more than 75% of the PAs in Metema Ready markets for banana from seasonal laborers Farmers started integrating livestock with banana
- 11. Continuous follow-up, observing, learning … Difficulty in transporting banana during rainy season Ripening of banana became critical to marketing Gondar market required volumes higher than can be produced by individual farmers Some diseases appeared Some groups failed due to poor management Some water pumps failed Cultivation around river banks caused erosion
- 12. Banana cultivation around river banks
- 14. Actions taken Trained farmers in pump repair by OoA water pump expert Facilitated linkages between banana producers and private pump repair services Regular field visits made by experts Facilitated linkages between farmers and agrochemical dealers Facilitated ripening training on “ Chella ” house techniques
- 17. Commercial “ Chella ” house ripening
- 18. Actions taken… Formed marketing groups for collection, transport, and sale Made linkages with EHDA and Bioversity International for future technical support and marketing Facilitated sale of suckers to neighboring Woredas Conducted scaling up/out training to administrators and OoA experts at zonal level Made advisory visits to neighboring Woredas Demonstrated river bank stabilization using various fodder species
- 21. Current status Linkages with private pump repair services and agrochemical shops well established and functioning Adoption of river bank stabilization additional source of feed for livestock fattening and apiculture development in some areas “ Chella” house in Gondar opened by one trader but closed because of lack of continuous supply and volume Banana farmers near small towns and seasonal labor markets are well established – some women opened retail shops Few farmers with poor road access to markets abandoned banana production
- 22. Outstanding challenges Penetration of Gondar markets and beyond requires Strong collective action to increase volume Improvement of road infrastructure Changes in the existing marketing arrangements needed Possible water shortage because of increased banana production Panama disease – a potential threat
- 23. Opportunities The regional government has given more attention to irrigation and horticultural development in Metema which is expected to help solve bottlenecks in banana production Banana introduction was instrumental in the broader horticulture development in Metema Further exploration of synergy between irrigated banana and fattening Export potential
- 24. Summary Resource based Participatory and demand driven Market orientation Business principles Value chain considerations Continuous engagement Technologies alone are not enough to bring about development but value chain approaches
- 25. Thank you