In Africa, many farmers produce plantains and other types of cooking bananas, which are more popular than dessert bananas. The demand for plantains is rising faster than output in Africa as well as in Latin America. Total world export of banana in 1995 was approximately 11.3 million tons from 32 countries. Here are some of the many ways people use bananas and plantains. Some farmers feed their animals bananas and plantains.
Some people claim that the peels have medicinal properties.
A high quality fiber can be extracted from the leaves and pseudostem and is used in textile manufacture for making ropes and strings and for the production of various handicrafts. The fruits are also sold in pulp form, chips, dried and in confectionery, and are used in some countries to produce alcohol. Rich in carbohydrates, bananas and plantains are of great nutritional significance. Bananas and plantains are also high in some minerals, notably phosphorus, needed for bone development, calcium, and potassium. They are particularly rich in vitamin C and contain significant amounts of several other vitamins such as vitamin A. Bananas do not contain fat and have zero cholesterol.