Banana farming: Meru gives Kisii a run for its money

Banana traders at Kamachge market in Imenti South, Meru County.

A stroll around the Imenti area in Meru reveals swathes of lush green farms where banana plantations are flourishing alongside the region's traditional crop, miraa (khat). As farmers increasingly invest in banana farming, the region is slowly transforming, setting itself on par with the Gusii region, which has long been recognized as the backbone of banana production in Kenya.