Based on the DEA-based Malmquist index method, the total factor productivity was calculated for 5 major banana production areas in 2003-2004, and it was further divided into technological progress and technical efficiency. The results show that the total factor productivity of banana industry in China was 1.3% in the sample period, mainly due to technological progress, the average growth rate was 2.6%, while the pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency was -0.1% and - 1.2% respectively. The improvement of total factor productivity in banana industry in China relied mainly on technological progress, cultivation of new banana varieties, management of high quality cultivation, popularization and application of water conservation and fertilizer saving technology, and injury-free picking technologies. The pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency of banana production were negative, indicating that the management level of banana was not high. The effect of scale economy of this industry through agglomeration and consolidation is still to be practiced. Banana growers should promote the improvement of large scale and management level of the banana industry at the same time of promoting the technological progress.