Chapter 298: Banana Garden
In the Northern Province of East Africa, the agricultural development plan centered around the Shabelle River began to take shape. Somalia, with limited arable land compared to other East African regions, had previously been heavily influenced by Arabic culture, resulting in a high rate of land already under cultivation. Farmers in the Northern Province began their work early in the cool morning under the guidance of village chiefs, organized to develop the agricultural potential of the area.
As the sun rose, casting its red glow upon the broad Shabelle River, the scenery along its banks resembled that of the Nile River. The river wound through the landscape, flanked by lush farmland on both sides, creating a picturesque scene.
In Baer Village, an expert in banana cultivation from Jamaica named Acrylic was guiding the planning of banana plantations in the lower reaches of the Shabelle River. The banana variety introduced to East Africa was the "Grand Mac Banana," popular in the Caribbean for its exceptional sweetness and richness.
Ernst, while not personally fond of sweetness, recognized the widespread appeal of sweet bananas in Europe and America during this era. The Gros Michel banana, itself quite sweet, was further enhanced by the climate of Somalia, resulting in exceptionally sweet "Grand Mac Bananas." Their thick skins made them suitable for long-distance transport and storage, contributing to their popularity.
Acrylic, born into a Jamaican farming family, had extensive experience in growing Gros Michel bananas. The Baer Village Chief, Yann, expressed some doubt about the feasibility of banana cultivation in the area due to his Hungarian background and lack of experience with deserts and oases.
Acrylic reassured him, explaining that with an adequate water supply from the Shabelle River and the local climate, banana cultivation should be viable. He highlighted that the climate in Somalia was similar to that of the Caribbean, making it conducive to growing sweet bananas. Acrylic emphasized that local conditions were suitable, and bananas grown there would find a market.
Yann confessed that his background had led to some skepticism about banana cultivation, but he was now more open to the idea. Acrylic shared that without his education and exposure to different regions, he might have had similar doubts. Born into a Jamaican farmer's family, Acrylic was fortunate to receive education in France, which broadened his perspective.
Yann inquired about the differences between banana planting in Somalia and Jamaica. Acrylic explained that while both places could support banana cultivation, Somalia's climate required less attention to drainage due to its stable and arid conditions. Jamaica, on the other hand, required good drainage due to heavy rainfall, especially during hurricanes.
The discussion clarified that while some drainage systems might be necessary, Somalia's climate was generally favorable for banana cultivation. Building water canals to divert river water for irrigation was one approach being adopted by villages like Baer. The canals would also allow for drainage when needed, although that was less likely due to Somalia's dry climate.
As banana cultivation took root along the Shabelle River, canals crisscrossed the landscape, supplying water to the fields. The canals penetrated into the Benadir Plain, the only strictly plain terrain in Africa apart from the Mozambique Plain. The Benadir Plain covered an area of approximately 270,000 square kilometers, and it was where the Shabelle River and Juba River flowed.
The agricultural development plan for the Northern Province and Juba Province focused on cash crops rather than food crops. Ernst's rationale was that these provinces had limited arable land and insufficient rainfall for extensive food crop cultivation. Instead, they would specialize in cash crops, such as bananas and frankincense and myrrh, which could be efficiently transported from the southern core regions of East Africa.
Moreover, this strategy ensured that these northern provinces remained economically dependent on the core region of East Africa. By focusing on cash crops and not competing with the southern regions in food production, the northern provinces maintained their role in the economic ecosystem.
Additionally, this approach helped protect the fragile local ecology in the arid environment of Somalia. While the Somali ecology was delicate, it was more resilient than many regions in the Middle East and North Africa due to the presence of two major rivers.
The development of cultivated land in Somalia remained limited, and the East African government's plan aimed to increase existing cultivated land by only 20%. This cautious approach was essential to avoid excessive deforestation and land degradation, as converting land to agriculture was easier than restoring it to its natural state once it became desert.
Baer Village, situated near Mogadishu, played a key role in the banana production areas of East Africa. The villagers worked diligently, leveling and restoring the land of the former Geredi Sultanate, repairing water infrastructure, and striving to reestablish local agricultural production as soon as possible.