CHAPTER ONE
1.1 ORIGIN, HISTORY OF CULTIVAT OF BANA (Musa nagensium).
Edible Musa spp. Originated in south eastern Asia from the India east and south to northern Australia.
Early Filipinos probably spread banana east word to the pacific Island, includes Hawaii, prior to recorded history. Westward, banana like followed the major trade routes that transported other fruits and it’s known to have arrived east Africa around 500 AD. Banana were met carried to Europe until the 10th century, and Portugal’s traders obtained it from wets Africa not Asia, during the age of discovery. Plants were taken from West Africa to the Canary Islands and South America in 10th century, and spread throughout the Caribbean with settlements of the area in the 16th – 17th centuries. Bananas are now grown patriotically more countries than any other fruits crop in the world.
1.2 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF BANAMA (Musa nagensium)
Musa is the type of genus of the banana family (Musaccae), which contains 25 – 80 specie of banana and plantain. Both are important throughout the world for food, shelter, medicine and even clothing. In production, banana is the second largest fruit crop in the world, grown in warm tropical climate across the globe. Banana and plantain are often said to grow on trees, but actually it’s a pseudo stern (false stem). The fruit also develops without pollination, which means that banana and plantains are “Virgin” Fruits, and are technically berries.
Their evident importance bananas and plantains necessary world wide. Their leaves are used for plates, home made umbrella and thatching (roofing); the pseudostems are made into rafts and benches. The fibers obtains from the pseudostem are used for fishing line in west Africa and fibric in the Philippines. In India, some banana fiber is even made into paper. Ash of dried peels from both bananas and plantain is used for dyeing and making of soap.
Various parts of the banana plant are medicinal, and used to treat anything from dysentery to burns and insect bites. These plants also contain natural antibiotics and fungicides and are used as animal food and fertilizer.
1.3 NUTRITIVE VALUE OF BANANA (Musa nagensium)
Besides its YUM factor, banana is a power house of nutrients. All its nutritional value and heat benefits are preserved in a natural way by its peel.
Banana is easily digestible and has many health benefits to other. Below is some of it nutritive benefits.
POTASSIUM
A single medium sized banana contains approximately 467mg of potassium and only a negligible 1mg of sodium. Potassium is important for regulating blood pressure and decreasing the risk of high blood pressure and it’s related conditions.
CALCIUM
Rich in calcium, 100g banana capable of supplying the body with 5mg of calcium. Calcium is essential for the information, as well as upkeep of strong bone and teeth, and for the smooth functions neurotransmitter release and muscle contraction.
CARBOHYDRATES
Banana are very high on energy, and are usually eaten. Other minerals are: Iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and fluoride are all found in the banana. Each of these minerals help different body functions and boom the immune system.
