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 great contributions of key players in the Banana world and critical reviewers of this banana world. The prospects look promising and a lot of 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.

Hartmann talks about how the current food crisis could be used as an opportunity to turn agriculture around to enhance food security, increase incomes, and improve the well being of millions of people in Africa.

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.

IITA has produced 17 high-yielding and disease- and pest-resistant varieties for planting in marginal areas in Africa and developed technologies for revitalizing soybean processing and marketing.

Agroenterprise Development Specialist Melba Davis-Mussagy explains how micro (small) and medium-scale enterprises in cassava can be used to fuel economic development in Nigeria.