A Plantain plant reproduces by "children" that sprout from its roots, or rhizome, as it is properly called. Although a plant can produce many children, they are normally prunned to select the strongest, leaving just three generations: mother, daughter, grandchild.

When the plant is short of a year old, it produces a flower from which the plantains grow, as can be seen in this image.

Market requirements have made it necessary to cover the plantain with a plastic bag to protect it from animals and other agents that may affect its health or appearance. When the plantain is bagged, it is marked with a color ribbon to control production and plan harvest.

Bagging plantains has created a litter problem that did not exist before. The town of Quimbaya collects these bags on certain dates to dispose of them properly. However, not everyone participates in the effort.

Looking at it from a different viewpoint, the need to bag the plantain has created a job that did not exist before. Does the economics of it compensate for the ecological consequences?

Plantain at La Ceiba is grown mainly as shade for coffee. However, plantain is an important aspect of the revenue of most coffee plantations, because well cared for it can become a source of constant income.

This image shows an intensive banana plantation in a neighboring farm. We can appreciate the difference with the type of plantation at La Ceiba. However, even as small as we are, we can produce about one ton of plantain every 20 days.