Under the PAPG1 (Projet d’Appui au Programme Graine 1) initiative, IITA–CGIAR delivered 16,222 high-quality plantain vitro-plants and 250,000 certified cassava cuttings to the Republic of Gabon, significantly boosting the country’s access to clean, improved planting materials.
The PAPG1 project, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in Gabon in partnership with IITA-CGIAR, is part of Gabon’s broader goal to strengthen domestic agricultural production and enhance the adoption of improved planting materials (seeds).
Drawing on years of investment in tissue culture laboratories, human capacity development, and validated propagation protocols, IITA-Cameroon mobilized its infrastructure to meet Gabon’s urgent demand for quality planting materials.
“These vitro-plants represent more than just planting materials; they are a gateway to stable yields, healthier plantations, and a stronger foundation for Gabon’s food systems,” Dr Fotso Appolin, a tissue culture specialist at IITA-Cameroon and PAPG1 Coordinator, explained.
The cassava cuttings supplied under PAPG1 were carefully selected to ensure high productivity, disease resistance, and adaptability to Gabon’s diverse agro-ecological zones.
“These cuttings come from varieties that have been rigorously evaluated for performance and resilience. Our role is to ensure that farmers receive clean, certified materials that can deliver consistent results in the field,” explains Lienou Jules, IITA Tissue Culture Laboratory Coordinator.
He further added that, “By providing improved cassava stems, we are laying the foundation for sustainable production systems. For many farming communities, this translates into higher yields, reduced losses, and improved household food security”.
Beyond the supply of planting materials, IITA-CGIAR’s contribution extends to knowledge transfer and capacity building.
The plantain vitro-plants will be distributed to selected production hubs, where farmers will receive training on best practices for plantation establishment and management.
The cassava cuttings will support both smallholder farmers and pilot production sites, reinforcing learning and adoption pathways.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Gabon welcomed the collaboration as a strategic accelerator of national priorities.
Kounba Kounba Bernard, Head of the Dola Agricultural Sector, emphasized the partnership’s value: “This collaboration with IITA-Cameroon accelerates our efforts to improve agricultural productivity. These materials will directly support farmers. With IITA’s support, Gabon is taking decisive steps toward food self-sufficiency.”
Contributed by Melanie Nyako and Ritha Marie Clarisse Bumwe
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