Plantain prices remain stable

By Jovia Nakawuki

Plantains, best known locally as gonja, are a popular delicacy in Uganda. However, not many Ugandans grow them in spite of a high demand and ready market for them.

Plantain is a member of the banana family that is starchy, low in sugar and can be cooked or roasted over fire, as is the case in Uganda.

Eriasa Kyeyune, a plantain farmer in Semuto district, says this plant takes about one and half years to produce a bunch of bananas, after which the mother plant dies. But new suckers sprout around its base.

The current situation

In most markets in Uganda, a small bunch of plantains costs about sh35,000-sh50,000. Just two fingers of plantains cost sh1,000. And yet, growing this delicacy across the country is not as widespread as any money spinner should be.

Many farmers spend money on gonja, yet they could grow it themselves. It is just a few farmers who are earning from it.

Agnes Nakibuuka, a vendor at Kibuye Market, says a research she carried out recently shows that most of the gonja is imported from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another survey she did in the markets of Matugga, Kawempe, Kalerwe and Mpererwe indicates that plantain is on high demand. A medium bunch goes for sh35,000, or even more, depending on the number of fingers it has.

"Buyers look for you. I am surprised when I get customers from far, who have been directed here by other people. And yet, sometimes it is not easy to get gonja around Kampala markets at wholesale.

The price of a bunch ranges from sh35,000 to sh50,000 for small and medium bunches respectively in all Kampala markets.