Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has launched the Management Committee of the Presidential Initiative for Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) at a ceremony in Kampala, according to a press release issued on Saturday by the State House.

The PIBID is aimed at research, development and adding value on local banana. The east African country is the second largest producer of bananas in the world after India. The nation currently produces 8.6 million tons of the crop per year, which accounts for 30 percent of the world total.

Launching the ceremony which took place on Friday, Museveni said the PIBID will be charged with the making of banana flour.

The president pleased to note that the flour can be sold in the region and internationally.

He pointed out that Ugandans have had good health because they consume bananas which have potassium known to be good for the heart muscles.

PIBID team leader Florence Muranga thanked Museveni for opening the eyes of Africa by taking the necessary risk to venture into tapping its scientific manpower resource.