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Where bananas are grown

The banana needs
        heat,
        humid air,
        plenty of water,
        light.
It dislikes wind.
It likes soils rich in organic matter.
It likes soils that drain quickly.

Once picked, bananas
should not be left long in the plantation.
Banana plants are planted along roads, tracks,
        railway lines or lagoons
        so that the fruits can be quickly moved away.

In the world as a whole,
Central and South America produce most bananas - nearly
20 million tons a year.
Asia produces 10.2 million tons
and Africa 4.2 million tons.

In Africa, the chief producers of bananas are:

Angola320 000 tons
Madagascar280 000 tons
Ivory Coast230 000 tons
Central African Empire170 000 tons
Somalia140 000 tons
Cameroon  90 000 tons
Guinea  90 000 tons

The above figures (for 1974) are from
        the FAO Production yearbook 1974.
The production of plantains
        is often not counted.


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