They Dumped Thousand Tons of Banana Peels in the Forest, a Few Years Later the Result Was Shocking

They dumped thousands of tons of banana peels into the forest, and a few years later the results were astounding!

Uganda, a country in East Africa with a population of nearly 50 million, is famous for its unique nature and many attractive tourist destinations. However, what has attracted particular attention is bananas – the most consumed fruit here. Uganda can be considered the “Banana Republic” because people here eat more bananas than anywhere else in the world.

In central Uganda, bananas are not only a food but also a main ingredient in many other products such as juice, beer, wine, flour, cosmetics and even a strong liquor called Waragi. On average, a Ugandan consumes about 2 pounds of bananas per day (equivalent to about 5 bananas). The country grows up to 84 different types of bananas, divided into 5 main groups: cooking bananas, banana wine, banana chips, sweet dessert bananas and all-purpose bananas.

Uganda is the second largest banana producer in the world (after India) and the largest in Africa, with an estimated annual production of 9.77 million tonnes. However, the majority of bananas are consumed domestically rather than exported. Bananas are so important in Uganda that the word “matooke” (banana) is a synonym for “food”.

Although bananas are an essential food source, the cultivation and processing of the fruit creates a huge amount of waste. Every year, Uganda produces about 3 million tonnes of banana waste, including peels, spoiled fruit, stems, leaves and other parts of the banana plant. In particular, the ratio of waste to harvest is alarming – for every 1 tonne of bananas harvested, 2 tonnes of waste are produced.

Banana waste management is a challenge not only in Uganda but also globally. When waste decomposes unchecked, it releases large amounts of greenhouse gases such as methane and CO2, contributing to climate change. Some places still burn banana waste in the open, further exacerbating the environmental problem.

To solve this problem, scientists have found various solutions. One of them is to produce biogas from banana waste through anaerobic digestion. Research shows that this type of waste can create an efficient and cost-effective source of renewable energy, which is especially useful in Uganda, where only 23% of the rural population has access to electricity.

In addition, harvested banana stems can be recycled into banana fiber, a durable material used to weave fabric, make paper, rope, or even replace cotton. In Pakistan, scientists have experimented with producing fabric from banana fiber, hoping to reduce dependence on imported cotton.

In addition, banana peels can also be used to make biochar, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional charcoal. In Cameroon, an entrepreneur has turned organic waste into biochar, helping to reduce deforestation.

Bananas are also being used to improve food. A research team in Canada has extracted nanofibers from banana stems and added them to ice cream to help it melt more slowly, increase smoothness and reduce fat content.

Although bananas bring many benefits, the industry also faces many risks. Monoculture banana farming makes the crop vulnerable to disease, such as the TR4 fungus that caused the Big Mike banana variety to almost disappear from the market.

In short, although bananas play an important role in the lives and economies of many countries, waste treatment and sustainable farming are still problems that need to be solved. Initiatives to recycle bananas into fuel, fabric fibers, biochar or fertilizer not only help reduce pollution but also open up new economic opportunities for people.