12/01/2026
Banana is spaced at 3 m × 3 m while papaya is spaced at 2.5 m × 2.5 m in a mixed plantation.
The wide inter-row and inter-plant spaces created during the first 8–12 months before canopy closure are efficiently utilized for short-cycle crops such as pepper and tomato. Within this period, pepper and tomato can be cultivated and harvested 2–3 complete cycles, generating early income before banana and papaya begin fruiting (papaya at 6–8 months, banana at 9–12 months). This approach maximizes land productivity and cash flow without competition once shading sets in.