Smallholder banana - based farming system dynamics of Arba Minch Zuria District, the case of Gamo Zone, Ethiopia: qualitative exploration

Different types of crops are produced in different agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia where specific biophysical conditions define the success of their production. This banana-based smallholder farming systems explorative study objective was to explore existing banana-based farming system dynamics and examine push-pull factors accelerating these dynamics. To achieve the objectives of study, three Kebeles of Arba Minch Zuria district were selected purposively. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using qualitative data analysis method. The results show that cropping systems of the study area have been changed a lot during the last years; going from seasonal crops farming to perennial fruit crops-based farming. An early farming practice of the study area was cultivating seasonal crops like maize, teff, sweet potato, and cotton. Later on farmers have shifted to perennial cash crops like banana and mango. Most farmers in the study area use cow dung, crop residues, poultry droppings, and house cleans to improve soil fertility of their banana field. During establishment of banana farmland, farmers inter-crop vegetable and cereal crops to maximize their farm income. When banana develop three to four suckers per hill and full canopy, farmers make their banana farm monoculture. Access to irrigation water, minimum input requirement nature of perennial crops, market demand, and existence of regular market were considered as pulling factors to shift farming system from seasonal cropping to banana-based perennial farming. Whereas soil salinity, lack of quality planting materials, poor sucker management, banana fruit market fluctuation, rainfall variability, lack of value addition practice, and weak market integration were considered as common pushing factors for banana production and marketing in Arba Minch Zuria district.