Banana and plantain (Musa species) rank fifth in the world as important food crops after maize, rice, wheat, and cassava. Banana fruit is consumed by the world population much more than apples and oranges
combined. Today, bananas are grown in at least 107 countries and are ranked fourth among the world’s food crops in monetary value. The annual banana production worldwide is estimated to be 130 million metric tons, of which one-third is produced in Sub-Sahara Africa. Tanzania is the second largest banana producer in East Africa after Uganda.