CHAPTER 290: CHAPTER 277: SOMALI BANANAS

The Western Route Army’s occupation of the right bank of the Kongou River also marks the end of East Africa’s third conquest war, and currently, East Africa is well-fed and satisfied.

With military goals accomplished, East Africa’s affairs have shifted from warfare to national development. Now East Africa must digest the results of this war while preparing to address future global situations.

Currently in Europe, Prussia and France, as well as Italy and Austria, are still engaged in war. Between Prussia and France, Ernst, having seen the script, already knows the outcome; the main uncertainty lies with Italy’s movements.

October 3, 1870.

Hohenzollern Castle.

Under the electric light, Ernst is examining the geographic data of Somalia collected in his hands. He uses a pencil to make corrections on the East Africa map beside him; East Africa’s regions in Somalia mainly cover the Northern Province and Juba Province.

The Northern Province and Juba Province, as planned development areas, are positioned by Ernst for strong growth in economic crop cultivation and animal husbandry.

In fact, Somalia is not purely a desert nation; its territory also includes fifteen percent forest area and an equivalent grassland area. Particularly the two provinces of East Africa, whose coverage area not only includes Somalia but also most of the southeastern region of the former Ethiopia.

As for food crop cultivation, it’s still left to other regions. Somalia’s arable resources are relatively scarce in East Africa’s territory, and so is water. Therefore, planting economic crops is more cost-effective.

First off is to increase the planting of frankincense and myrrh. These two items have no worry of being unsold. The Somali region historically produced spices, and even now it’s one of the world’s major producers of frankincense and myrrh, thus known as the "Land of Spices". Frankincense and myrrh are local flagship products, producing over half of the world’s supply.

Next is animal husbandry; the most important product of Somalia’s animal husbandry is mainly camels, having been the world’s first in camel numbers in the past. Then comes cattle and sheep. East Africa doesn’t have much demand for camels but can sell them to North Africa and the Middle East.

Frankincense, myrrh farming, and camel rearing are considered Somalia’s advantageous traditional industries, and on this basis, Ernst plans to make Somalia the cotton plantation base and banana cultivation base for East Africa.

Talking about banana cultivation, this is definitely a new field. East Africa’s territory has many banana trees, but large-scale planting has never formed, thus it hasn’t been commercialized instead only serves as ordinary fruits for East African residents.

Bananas produced in Somalia in the past had excellent taste, reminiscent of vanilla cream, claimed as the "world’s sweetest bananas". Because of this, Somalia also earned the reputation of being the "Banana Kingdom".

Currently, Somalia’s banana cultivation is still much of a blank slate. Banana planting in Somalia in the past rose during the 1920s Italian colonial period, with Italians building over two hundred banana plantations on fertile land in southern Somalia.

Italy’s banana cultivation was quite successful, and bananas quickly became one of the staple foods for Somali people, served mixed with rice or pasta, as well as a fruit before meals. The dietary habits of Somali people clearly mark Italy’s profound influence on Somali banana farming.

Later, during the chaotic skirmishes of factional leaders in Somalia, banana plantations were a priority to seize. Hence, the banana industry is vitally important to Somalia. Of course, those Somali warlords no longer have the chance to seize banana plantations; currently, local people are unseen in East Africa’s Northern Province and Juba Province.

With this in mind, Ernst spoke, "Tom, go and contact some European agricultural experts, preferably ones skilled in banana planting technology. See if anyone is willing to develop in East Africa. Also, gather plenty of professional materials on banana cultivation; we need data to support the economic development of the Somali region."

"Yes, Your Highness! However, I have a question. Isn’t Somalia a desert? Is it suitable for banana cultivation there?" Tom asked curiously.

"It is desert climate but not entirely desert. Even Egypt has oases in its deserts! Plus, how fertile the Nile River’s banks are goes without saying, and although Somalia’s Shebelle River and Juba River cannot compare to the Nile, they aren’t much worse either, providing irrigation for both sides. As long as there’s a water source, desert is no issue."

"That’s true, but why necessarily cultivate bananas in Somalia, Your Highness? Aren’t there plenty elsewhere in East Africa?" Tom asked with some wonder.

Bananas are quite common in Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes Region, which is very suitable for banana cultivation. Documentary footage from the previous century shows Africans transporting bananas using bicycles in Great Lake Region countries. For example, in Uganda, ’national food’ consists of banana meals, and ’national drink’ Waragi is a banana-based brewed beverage. The well-known Aud Biao, a banana transporter from Burundi, carries not fruit but lifestyle.

"Those areas do have bananas, but in terms of distance, they cannot compare to Somalia. We are targeting the European market, making transport a big issue, especially for bananas and other fruit and melon produce. Meanwhile, Somalia’s location is excellent. With the Suez Canal open, Europe is nearby, and ports offer direct usage." Ernst explained.

Somalia’s major banana production area, Afgoye, is only about thirty kilometers from Mogadishu, and the port of Mogadishu makes access to the Middle East and Europe very convenient, especially distance-wise more advantageous than Southeast Asia and America, producing similar products. With this regional advantage, once bananas are cultivated, it will be hard not to make a fortune.

Africa has a long history of banana cultivation, and is the only region that can compete with Southeast Asia and America in the banana agriculture industry.

"Currently, I’ve heard the Americans are also looking to develop banana plantations in Latin America, then let’s focus on the European and Middle Eastern business," Ernst said.

The American banana industry is just starting at this moment. However, Americans are planting on Latin American and Caribbean islands, not within mainland US. East Africa, on the other hand, is planting on its own land. If slavery isn’t utilized, it surely won’t cause outrage like the Americans have.

"Cost-wise, East Africa’s banana production may be slightly higher than America’s. However, for bananas, a tropical crop, when exporting, preservation and transportation are the biggest challenges. Compared to Americans, the entire Middle Eastern and European markets are open to us."

Then Tom asked, "Your Highness, hearing you this way indeed shows that banana cultivation in Somalia holds advantage conditions, but isn’t banana import to Europe also possible from West Africa? That’s how Spain, Britain, and France operate."

"Haha, I certainly know that. But that’s along the Atlantic coast. Europe is big, especially Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and Austria-Hungary are our markets," Ernst said.

Especially Russia, a cold-climate country, lacking tropical products most. Actually, India is quite near Russia, but the issue is Russia’s core lies in Eastern Europe. East Africa, leveraging the Suez Canal, reaching Russia’s ports via the Black Sea has transportation advantages instead.