In terms of world production, the banana (genus Musa) is one of the top three tropical fruits, along with citrus and pineapple. Banana serves as a staple food in some countries of Africa, Asia, Central and South America.
                                     
It has been extensively cultivated in Sindh province, due to suitable environment and soil conditions, Bananas are cut from the plants when green and are transported to markets. It is now a common practice to ripen the banana through ethylene in cold rooms prior the sale to consumer. Blemished banana is desirable to large extent in the country.

AREA IN "000" HECTARES

	Punjab	Sindh	N.W.F.P	Balochistan	Pakistan
2002-03	2.2	25.4	0.6	1.5	29.7
2003-04	2.0	27.5	0.7	1.5	31.7
2004-05	1.9	29.1	0.4	1.5	32.9
2005-06	1.7	29.1	0.7	0.4	32.5
2006-07	1.6	32.2	0.7	0.4	34.9

PRODUCTION IN "000" TONNES

	Punjab	Sindh	N.W.F.P	Balochistan	Pakistan
2002-03	14.7	112.9	12.2	3.1	142.9
2003-04	12.9	125.7	13.1	23.0	174.7
2004-05	12.4	129.6	13.4	2.9	148.3
2005-06	11.4	134.7	13.7	3.7	163.5
2006-07	10.4	126.3	13.6	0.2	150.5

YIELD PER HECTARE IN KGS

	Punjab	Sindh	N.W.F.P	Balochistan	Pakistan
2002-03	6681.8	4444.9	20333.3	2066.7	4811.4
2003-04	6450.0	4570.9	18714.3	15333.3	5511.0
2004-05	6526.3	4453.6	8500.0	1933.3	4507.6
2005-06	6705.9	4535.4	19571.4	9250.0	5030.8
2006-07	6500.0	3922.4	19428.6	500.0	4312.3