The average planting distance is 3.0m x 3.0m. As banana roots are superficial, care is taken during weeding to ensure that root damage does not occur. Weeds in between rows are controlled with herbicides using sprayer with a protective cone to the spray nozzle. Banana wilt is the most serious disease. Wilting begins with the leaf, followed by petiole and pseudostems.
Control is by use of disease free suckers.
Another fungus causes leaf spot and this is controlled by using copper oxychloride or propiconazote on the affected parts. Pest include the borer caused by the weevil using suckers which are free of borers. Incisions of 0.5cm can be made in the skin and a combination of formula and Benomyl can be applied and left to dry to control this pest. The 'follower' plant will produce 3 - 4 months later, thus about four harvests from 1 clump per year is possible. Trunk, leaf and skin is used for animal feed.