Banana Production by Kubo People of the Interior Lowlands of Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

A 15 month study' of subsistence agriculture was undertaken at the small Kubo community of Gwaimasi, on the Strickland River, NNW of Nomad, Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Bananas and flour from sago palms were the primary' carbohydrate foods of the people. The former were grown at small gardens cut into 15-20 year old secondary' forest on river- or stream-side levee banks. Planting density was 1382 plants/hectare. Preparatory work (clearing, collection and transport of suckers, planting and felling trees) occupied 850-900 person-hours/hectare. The gardens were not fenced and 42 percent of the work was in collection and transport of suckers. Males did somewhat more work than females. Bananas were available for eating between 8 and 20 months after planting and the yield was 1313 bunches/hectare (4494kg edible/hectare). At Gwaimasi village, with a monthly average of25 residents through a 14 month period, banana production was sufficient to provide at least 50 percent of people ’s energy needs. Production was variable in time with people shifting between virtual independence of, and full dependence on, bananas. There is no evidence that these shifts were seasonally determined.