An Economic Assessment of Banana Genetic Improvement and ...

60 CHAPTER 5
Table 5.14 Number and share of banana mats planted to improved banana cultivars,
by users, Uganda
Elevation
Exposure
Cultivar type Low High Exposed Not exposed
All
Number of mats
Exotic or hybrid 7.9 0.0 5.4*** 8.3*** 7.9
Elite endemic 9.2 0.0 9.2*** 6.7*** 9.2
All improved 17.0** 0.0** 17.0*** 15.0*** 17.04
Mat share
Exotic or hybrid 0.03** 0.0** 0.1*** 0.02*** 0.03
Elite endemic 0.1* 0.0* 0.2** 0.1** 0.10
All improved 0.13** 0.0** 0.3*** 0.12*** 0.13
Notes: ***, **, and * indicate statistical significance at the 1 percent, 5 percent, and 10 percent levels,
respectively, in the difference of means or distributions across elevation and exposure strata within country.
Mean number of mats in improved material is calculated only for those growing the improved material. A mat
is a mother plant and all of its plantlets. Exotic refers to introduced farmers’ cultivars; elite endemic refers to
endemic types selected and enhanced by the National Agricultural Research Organization; and all improved
combines exotic, elite endemic, and hybrid categories.
Table 5.15 Percentage of farmers growing improved banana cultivars, Tanzania
Elevation
Exposure
Type of cultivar
Low High Exposed Not exposed
All
Exotic 97.3 100 97.3 100 97.7
Hybrid 21.4*** 5.0*** 18.6 20 18.9
Either exotic or hybrid 97.3 100 97.3 100 97.7
Notes: Differences across strata are tested by cross-tabulation using the chi-square distribution. *** indicates
statistical significance at the 1 percent level. Columns do not total because 35 households were found growing
both exotics and hybrids on their plots, reducing the total number of households growing at least one
improved cultivar to 132 instead of 174. Exotic refers to introduced farmers’ cultivars.
the effects of farmer-to-farmer diffusion.
This finding is consistent with the pattern
estimated by the KCDP project, in Table 4.3
of Chapter 4. Farmer-based exchange more
than offset project-based exchange, even
when project efforts were as intensive as
those undertaken in Kagera Region.
Use of recommended banana-management
practices was studied only in Uganda
(Katungi 2006). Use rates for recommended
management practices are much higher than
for improved cultivars (Table 5.17). However,
farmers use a wide range of organic
fertilizers and sanitation practices to manage
their banana groves. They apply mulch
(in the form of grass, crop residues, or
household refuse) to control weeds, enable
water penetration, and add nutrients to the
soil when decomposed. Other organic fertilizers
are applied directly to the soil as organic
manure (that is, animal waste and
composted household refuse). On average,
mulching, animal manure, and soil and
water conservation (SWC) bands are more