Banana as a Cash Crop and Its Food Security and Socioeconomic Contribution: The Case of Southern Ethiopia, Arba Minch

Abstract

Food security is a challenge in many developing countries. Nations are still struggling to make use of available resources so as to combat hun ger. Drought, land degradation, marketing constraints, improper post-harvest handling and anthropogenic factors are minimizing the production and productivity of ag ricultural land resources. Making use of improved technologies, adaptable crops and high yielding cash crops, however, are also helping many to cope up with food insecurity. Banana production is significantly contributing for food security as well as livelihood opportunities in Southern Ethiopia. But, technical works on the value chain of the crop are still minimal ; it would have resulted a tangible impact on the national income in terms of export earnings and food security too. The Southern Ethiopia, Gamo Gofa Zone is the leading banana producer in the country. This article assesses the potential contribution of banana production to food and income security in the area. The paper also explored the major banana production maximization bottlenecks. 63 farmers of Arba Minch Zuriya District were interviewed to extract primary information. Discussions were held with Government officials. Different reports and related literatures were also reviewed. The result showed that, banana produc tion was having a significant role for the wellbeing of the community explain ed in terms of food security, income source and serving as source of feed for livestock. Problems associated with marketing and post-harvest handling are also identified being production problems. The fact that, the production of banana is mainly dominated by men has also let the men to sell the crop and have an independent control over the cash. Therefore, community awareness development, improv ing production systems and developing the culture of saving could help to have a sustained impact of banana production in the region.