Table 6 Sex-disaggregated rationale for banana cultivars’ preferences. The reasons listed have been summarized from FGDs in all study sites for farmers' preferred cultivars
From: Farmers' preferences for East African highland cooking banana 'Matooke' hybrids and local cultivars
Cultivar | Reasons for preference Men | Reason for preference Women |
|---|---|---|
**Mbwazirume | • Large bunch • Large fruit • Vigorous stem • Bunch marketability • Can survive in dry conditions • It contains fibers that can be utilized to make various by-products | • Large bunch • Large fruit • Vigorous stem • Appealing plant appearance • Tolerance to drought • High cultural importance |
*NARITA 4 | • Long bunch • Bunch marketability • Large fruit • Short plant stature not easily damaged by wind • Suckers grow close to mother plants • Retain many leaves | • Large fruit • Appealing fruit appearance • Appealing plant appearance • Vigorous pseudostem • Medium plant stature • Resembles local cultivars • The leaves can be used to prepare and steam food |
*NARITA 22 | • Large bunch • Appealing fruits appearance • Bunch marketability • Vigorous stem • Resistance to drought • Produce healthy suckers • Retains many leaves | • Large bunches • Large fruit • Bunch marketability • Appealing plant appearance • Tolerant to drought |
*NARITA 11 | • Large fruit • Bunch marketability • Appealing fruit cluster appearance • Resembles local cultivars | • Large fruit • Large bunch • Vigorous stem • Not affected by diseases |
*NARITA 2 | • Well-defined large fruit cluster • Bunch marketability • Appealing plant appearance • Tall plants making the field look attractive | • Long bunch • Attractive bunch appearance and compact • Vigorous stem • Many leaves that can be used for animal feed |
*NARITA 9 | • Large bunch • Bunch marketability • Vigorous stem • Host plant resistance • Tolerant to drought | • Large fruit • Many fruit clusters • Bunch marketability • Host plant resistance • The plant has a good stature that allows for intercropping |
**Nakitembe | • Large bunch • Vigorous stem • Not affected by diseases (no symptoms of Xanthomonas bacterial wilt) • Many suckers | • Compact fruit • Appealing fruit appearance • Appealing plant appearance • Provides many and healthy suckers • Appeared to be able to withstand harsh climatic condition and hailstorms Has nice leaves for steaming ‘Matooke’ food |