By Muhammad Nure Alam

The banana is an inseparable part of daily life; bananas are everywhere. The transformation from an ancient wild fruit into today's sweet, seedless banana is astonishing. It is not just a food but the product of combined work by nature and people, and behind it lies a history of thousands of years. Researchers say the development of this fruit is a milestone in the agricultural science of human civilisation. The banana has reached this point through the hands of ancient farmers.

How was this fruit discovered? Who developed it? Why did it become so popular? The banana originated in South-east Asia and spread from there around the world. Ancient farmers improved it by selecting seedless, sweet bananas and propagating them vegetatively. The fruit is important not only as food but in culture and religious rituals.

The history of the banana is a fascinating story. Its source is South-east Asia. Researchers say bananas were first found in the Malaysia, Indonesia and New Guinea region. People came to know the fruit about 7,000 years ago, when it was still wild. Two wild species, Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, are the basis of the banana, and the modern banana was born from crosses between them. Ancient farmers noticed different traits: some bananas had fewer seeds and some tasted sweet. These qualities attracted them.

Early bananas were small and hard, with large seeds, and difficult to eat. But farmers worked patiently. They chose seedless plants and produced new ones by vegetative propagation. Gradually this process produced seedless, smooth, sweet bananas that were fit to eat. Researchers believe this change was the result of human intelligence working with nature.

Archaeologists have found traces of banana cultivation in ancient farming areas of India and South-east Asia. The fruit became popular about 3,000 years ago, and since then it has been bound up with human life, not only as food but in culture and lifestyle. The efforts of ancient farmers built today's banana.

The banana has had a deep influence on the agricultural history of human civilisation. It is not the invention of any single discoverer but the result of the labour of thousands of ancient farmers. In ancient times farmers in rural South-east Asia, especially in Bangladesh, began experimenting with bananas. They noticed that some plants were seedless and some fruit was sweet, and to fix these traits they grew new plants from cuttings. In this way the banana gradually improved through vegetative propagation, a process that has continued over centuries.

Bananas are mentioned in ancient Indian texts. In Buddhism and Hinduism the banana was considered a sacred fruit and was offered in worship, becoming part of the culture. In 1400, the famous traveller Ibn Battuta mentioned bananas in his travel account. He wrote that banana production in the Maldives was insufficient, and that the local people cultivated it widely. The fruit was then an important part of their way of life.

Europeans became acquainted with the banana in 1500. Portuguese sailors took it to Africa and the Caribbean, and their commercial daring spread the banana to world markets. In the 18th century a British company began trading bananas, establishing it as a global fruit. Today the banana has reached almost every corner of the world, thanks to the immeasurable contribution of ancient farmers. Its journey is a chapter not only in farming but in the history of culture, economics and food. Ancient farmers grew it to survive, and it became a fruit loved worldwide.

Behind the banana lay the human need for food. In ancient times food resources were very limited, and people looked for fruit that was easy to obtain. The banana was such a fruit: it grows fast, is easy to cultivate and is full of nutrients, containing vitamins A, B6 and C. So ancient farmers chose the banana, began cultivating it, and it became popular.

But the banana is not only food; culture is bound up with it. In Bangladesh bananas have many uses. They are important in religious rituals and are offered in puja. Food is traditionally served on banana leaves, green bananas are cooked into tasty dishes, and banana flowers are popular as medicine for stomach problems. For these reasons the banana is now part of our culture and way of life.

There are many banana varieties. Researchers divide the banana into two species, Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, and more than 500 varieties have been produced from crosses between them. The main ones are:

• Cavendish: today's popular variety, seedless and sweet.
• Gros Michel: popular before 1950, now almost extinct.
• Plantain: can be eaten raw; used in cooking.
• Red banana: red in colour, with a different taste.

The banana is triploid, with three copies of its genes, which is why it does not produce seeds. It is grown by cloning, or vegetative propagation. This trait has made the banana good to eat but has also made it vulnerable to disease.

The banana's genetic change is entirely the work of people. Ancient farmers started from wild bananas and chose seedless varieties, making the fruit sweet, soft and edible. But this brought a risk: seedless bananas became vulnerable to disease, putting varieties in danger. In the 1950s Panama disease (Fusarium wilt) destroyed the Gros Michel variety, then the world's popular banana. The Cavendish, which was somewhat resistant, took its place. But now Cavendish too is succumbing to TR4, a new form of Panama disease, a major threat to banana production. Researchers are looking for solutions and turning to genetic engineering. Australian scientists are developing TR4-resistant bananas. If this succeeds the banana's future will be protected, but it is still at the experimental stage and the fight goes on.

Banana production is an important farming sector in Bangladesh and plays a large role in the economy. Lakhs of tonnes are produced every year. Bananas are grown most in areas such as Chattogram, Sylhet, Rangamati and Bandarban, whose fertile soil and suitable climate are ideal. Village farmers earn their living from bananas, a major source of income that enriches the rural economy.

Demand for bananas continues all year and they sell easily. Green bananas are used in cooking and ripe ones eaten directly. The leaves, stem and flower are all useful, which is why banana farming is popular among farmers. Many rural families run their households by selling bananas, and it is raising their living standards.

But disease is a major problem. Panama disease, black Sigatoka and banana bunchy top virus destroy plants, causing farmers big losses. Yields fall and sometimes whole crops are lost. Farmers lack the knowledge and equipment to prevent disease and cannot treat it properly, so they lose money.

Intervention by the government and the relevant departments is now urgent, the writer argues. The agriculture department must train farmers, supply disease-resistant varieties, ensure pesticides and fertiliser are readily available and bring new technology to farmers through research. This would raise production and reduce losses. Banana farming has great potential and, with the right steps, can contribute more to the economy and make farmers' lives easier.

There is great concern about the banana's future. Disease is reducing production, and TR4 Panama disease in particular is a major threat that is destroying the Cavendish. Researchers say that without a solution the banana could disappear, so developing disease-resistant varieties is urgent. Scientists are working on it and are hopeful. Genetic engineering is playing a big role in creating new varieties, and success has already been achieved in Australia, where TR4-resistant bananas are being tested. This is a ray of hope for farmers, but it will take time to reach every country. More investment, government support and the involvement of international organisations are needed; no one can solve this problem alone.

Demand is rising. The banana is popular worldwide, easily available and nutritious, so production must increase, yet disease is reducing it. Farmers are frustrated and losing money, which threatens the rural economy. The problem is also seen in Bangladesh, where farmers in Chattogram and Sylhet have been affected. Planning is needed to raise production: modern farming methods, training for farmers and financial support.

Raising awareness is also essential. The public must know how much we depend on bananas and that disease could take them away; informed people will press the government to act. Farmers too must learn to recognise the symptoms of disease and act in time, reducing losses. Links between researchers and farmers must grow so new technology reaches them quickly. If everyone works together, the banana can be saved.

The banana is not just a fruit but part of our lives, and losing it would mean losing a great deal. Action must be taken now to protect the banana for future generations.

The writer is a journalist and columnist.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.