Proper sucker selection and preparation is the foundation of a healthy and productive banana plantation.
The quality of the suckers you choose, and how well you prepare them before planting, directly affects growth, resistance to pests and diseases, and overall yield.
Knowing the right steps can help farmers boost productivity and establish strong, disease-free banana crops that thrive season after season.
Joseph Bukenya, a banana farmer from Gayaza, says the first thing to do is identify healthy mother plants.
A mother plant that has produced a large, healthy bunch and shows no signs of pests or diseases is considered ideal for getting suckers. Using suckers from weak or infected plants can lead to poor growth and spread of disease in the new plantation.
Bukenya advises selecting sword suckers, those with narrow, pointed leaves, because they are firmly connected to the mother plant and grow into strong, productive banana stools.
Once identified, the suckers are carefully dug out using a sharp hoe or knife to avoid damaging the roots.
“You must dig deep and wide around the sucker to get as many roots as possible,” Bukenya advises.
After uprooting, you trim off the old leaves and roots, leaving a clean corm (the bulb-like base of the sucker), which will later sprout new roots.
Seperanza Kenyena, a respected banana farmer from Isingiro district, adds that timing is also key.
“I prepare my suckers at the beginning of the rainy season. This gives them the best chance to establish in the field.”
After harvesting, she lets the suckers dry in the shade for a few days before planting.
“This helps reduce the risk of fungal infections,” she explains.
Gideon Zakke, an agronomist explains the importance of sanitising the suckers before planting to prevent the spread of banana weevils and nematodes.
“I always advise farmers to use the paring method,” Zakke says.
Paring involves trimming off the outer layer of the corm to remove any eggs or larvae of pests. After paring, the suckers are dipped in hot water (between 50–55°C) for about 20 minutes to kill any remaining pests without damaging the plant.
Zakke also encourages farmers to treat the suckers with a fungicide or neem solution before planting, especially in areas where bacterial wilt or Panama disease is common.
Once treated and dried, the suckers are ready for planting. Farmers are advised to dig holes of about 60cm wide and 60cm deep, mix compost or manure with topsoil, and plant the sucker upright with the corm fully covered.
Proper sucker selection and preparation may seem labour-intensive, but as Bukenya says, “The effort you put in before planting determines the harvest you will get. Healthy suckers grow into healthy banana plants.”
