Banana

The banana (also called muus) is a fruit from plants of the Musaceae family, specifically from species within the genus Musa. Although the banana plant is tall and tree-like in appearance, its visible trunk is not made of wood; it is composed of tightly overlapping leaf bases, and for this reason the banana plant is classified as a large herbaceous plant rather than a true tree.

Bananas grow in tropical and subtropical regions with high rainfall. They are an important food for millions of people, and in some cases are a staple food that substitutes for rice or grain. The fruits are divided into two broad types: sweet bananas eaten raw, and plantains (plantains) which are mostly fried or boiled.

Plant and cultivation

The banana plant grows from an underground rhizome. From this rhizome emerge new shoots that are cultivated—for this reason most farmers do not use seeds, but rather plant a section cut from an existing plant. When the plant produces fruit once, the visible stem dies and is replaced by new shoots. Commercial varieties typically produce seedless fruits, making them easier to eat.

Uses and nutrition

Bananas contain natural sugars, carbohydrates, and minerals including potassium. Sweet bananas are commonly eaten raw or added to blended drinks. Starchy plantains are made into fried food, fried chips, or flour. The large leaves are used in many places as food wrapping or as a natural plate.

Cultivation and commerce

Bananas are among the most widely traded fruits in the world. They are cultivated extensively in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Because most commercial varieties are genetically identical, fungal diseases such as Panama disease pose a serious threat to plantations, since they spread rapidly through genetically uniform crops. This has prompted scientific research into disease-resistant varieties.

Somalia

In Somalia, bananas grow widely in the regions of the Shabelle and Juba rivers, where irrigation is possible. For periods in the twentieth century, bananas were among the largest goods exported. Civil conflict, the deterioration of irrigation infrastructure, and shifts in global markets have affected production and export levels.