Representatives from the banana research and industry from all over Africa had an excellent meeting in Kenya in October 2008. The ambition to develop a 10-year strategic roadmap that would harmonize and guide efforts to promote the marketing and trade of the crop in the continent has been kick-started with contributions of key players in the banana world and critical reviewers. The prospects look promising and further details will be released post-conference.

About 87% of all the bananas grown worldwide is produced by small-scale farmers for local consumption as a food security crop, and for local markets than for international trade. They provide a staple food for millions of people, particularly in Africa.

“I like the applied and hands-on work” says award winning IITA scientist Thomas Dubois…

Tripathi “demystifies” biotechnology and explains its importance in improving crop varieties and helping produce more and better food for Africa.

Plants, like people, need healthcare. But in Africa, where agriculture is dominated by smallholders, farmers do not have access to reliable plant health advice and management services.

Uganda based IITA breeder Jim Lorenzen describes macropropagation as an alternative method of producing and distributing banana planting materials to help reduce the spread of pests and diseases.

This article discusses how endophyte-based technology is helping commercialize banana production in East Africa, and how partnerships with various public and private entities have contributed to the success of the R4D approach.

Economist Steffen Abele, based in IITA-Tanzania, discusses the challenges and potentials of marketing organic bananas sourced from Africa.

Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) is threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in East Africa. What is IITA doing to hasten R4D in developing bananas resistant to major pests and diseases such as BXW?

Grown by smallholder farmers, bananas and plantains are major food staples and two of the leading cash crops, both in the East African Great Lakes zone and the West African humid lowlands. Diverse banana cultivars are grown for a number of uses, including brewing (juice bananas), cooking and roasting, as well as sweet dessert bananas.