Farmers in the Eastern Province have embarked on a programme aimed at improving the quality of their banana plants.

The farmers, especially in Ngoma, Rwamagana, and Kirehe districts, say adopting best farming practices and use of advanced technology is helping them earn more from different products made out of banana plant.

Several farmers who spoke to The New Times on Tuesday, from their stands at a trade fair in Rwamagana, said they no longer depend on selling bananas alone.

Elias Nsabimana, a farmer in Kirehe, said they had acquired enough knowledge and skills to help add value to the crop.

"We are in the age of agriculture modernisation. Gone are the days when we used to depend entirely on traditional practices,” he said.

"Bananas are processed into chips and exported outside the country.This has encouraged many farmers to keep in business,” he added.

Simeon Karekezi, another banana grower, said bananas can be transformed into various products.

"For instance banana fibers are processed into paper and sanitary towels. We have ready market in schools…school girls have liked the sanitary towels,” he said.

A paper factory is under construction in Rwamagana and is set to help banana growers get more profits. The factory will be using banana stems as raw material.

Farmers are also making wine out of banana.

Christine Murebwayire, one of those involved in the banana wine production, said the business is doing well both locally and internationally.

"Banana is one of the major crops in this province. It’s got a number of by-products on demand. We started by selling the wine locally, then regional and today we have gone as far as Europe,” Murebwayire said.

"We are increasingly meeting international standards in terms of quality…we have good seals and labels. The seals I use, for instance, were made by Washington University…it makes me sell all over the world,” she said.

Eastern Province is well known for large scale banana growing.

A bunch of banana, worth Rwf2,000, produces two bottles of wine that cost Rwf10,000. The price more than doubles when bananas are sold in form of chips.