There are major differences between bananas and plantains.
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| Bananas and Plantains |
Bananas
and plantains are the "first fruit crop" as its cultivation
originated during a time when hunting and gathering were still the principal
means of acquiring food.
Bananas
and plantains may have originated in Southeast Asia but their introduction into
Africa is unclear.
Africans
annually consume around 46 pounds or 21 kilograms of bananas and plantains per
capita, but Ugandans consume 421 pounds or 191 kilograms per year, that is more
than 1 pound .5 kilogram per day.
Banana vs. Plantain, what’s the difference?
Bananas
Bananas
are cultivated in nearly all tropical regions of the world. Of particular
importance to Africa is the East African Highland Banana which is a staple
starchy food for 80 million people and important source of income. There are
120 East African Highland Banana varieties in Uganda alone that are not found
anywhere else in the world.
Banana
are grown in nearly 130 countries. Uganda is the largest producer of banana and
plantain in sub-Saharan Africa followed by Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, and
Cameroon. Ugandans use the same word for food as the name of the local banana
dish matooke.
Bananas
are one of the most popular fruits eaten around the world. When ripe they are
usually long and curved with a soft inside and are around 80% water.
Plantains
Plantain
resemble banana but are longer in length, have thicker skin, and contain more
starch less sugar and are around 65% water. They are also a major staple food
in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
They are usually cooked and not eaten raw
unless they are very ripe. Plantains are more important in the humid lowlands
of West and Central Africa. One hundred or more different varieties of plantain
grow deep in the African rainforests.
