A banana plant for every woman

In 2018, we launched “For Every Woman a Banana Plant,” an important project for our fight against malnutrition.

The project

With the project, we are promoting the cultivation and consumption of bananas to address vitamin A and calcium deficiencies. According to UNICEF, these deficiencies are at the root of chronic malnutrition in about 50% of children. By focusing on banana cultivation, we aim to reduce malnutrition in children and promote their health.

In more than 60 villages, we gave a banana plant to all the women. The agronomists of our Foundation, teach them how to take care of the plant and continue to advise and assist them.

In addition, they regularly organize training sessions on such topics as

• growing bananas
• the processing and sale of bananas and their derivatives
• cutting bananas
• the health benefits of bananas

Objectives

The project aims to combat malnutrition by empowering women to grow bananas and teaching them how to maximize the plants’ yield. After all, bananas, which were little consumed in the region, are rich in vitamin A, potassium and calcium, contributing to a healthy diet.

The project also contributes to the development of entrepreneurship among women.

Results and developments

The “For Every Woman a Banana Plant” project ran from 2018 to 2020. We distributed nearly 20,000 banana plants to more than 6,000 households. Three years later, the response and results are still positive.

On average, each plant yields a harvest of about 20 kilograms twice a year. A small calculation shows that – knowing that more than half of the banana plants are still alive – the project produces an average of 400 tons of bananas per year. And more and more banana plants are being added. After all, the women hand out cuttings to fellow villagers who in turn plant and grow them.

Some women have established banana plantations following the project to generate more income contributing to their social and financial emancipation.