Banana for food and fibre: The position of Uganda’s banana smallholder farmers

Abstract

Globally, there is growing interest to utilise agricultural residues as raw material in diverse industries, including use of banana stems for production of natural fibre. Uganda, where over 80% of farming households grow bananas for food and income, is gearing up its fibre production to tap into the growing demand. However, successful scaling up of fibre production depends on the feasibility of banana farmers, as potential raw material producers, to re-orient from production of banana as a food crop to a commercial crop with multiple uses e.g. fibre. This could pose negative implications at farm level, on their food self-sufficiency, income and nutrient balances. This study assessed, from the stakeholders perspective, the underlying socio-economic factors motivating farmers’ engagement in fibre production, and the potential implications on their livelihoods. Data were obtained through a systematic set of mixed methods...