Bananas are a lifeline for the communities of Kagera, a region in northwestern Tanzania. Beyond their economic value as a staple crop and source of income, bananas are woven into cultural traditions, serving as symbolic elements in ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. However, the prevalence of diseases (Fusarium wilt, black leaf streak) and pests (weevils and nematodes) in the latter years of the second half of the past century drastically reduced the genetic diversity of the endemic banana, the Eastern Africa Highlands Bananas (EAHBs), triggering a devastating crisis that threatened communities’ livelihoods.
The local communities tried to address the crises by introducing traditional varieties from other regions of Tanzania and neighboring countries. However, their efforts have achieved little success due to limited knowledge of the mechanisms by which pests and diseases spread.
The turning point came through an initiative designed and co-managed by IITA’s banana crop lead, resulting in a strategic partnership between the Government of Tanzania (via TARI-Maruku, formerly ARDI-Maruku) and the Belgian Agency for International Cooperation (Enabel) (formerly the Belgian Administration for Development and Cooperation), which co-financed the Kagera Community Development Programme (KCDP) from 1997 to 2003. The program facilitated the introduction of improved banana varieties from FHIA and IITA, collectively referred to as superior banana varieties (SBVs). It also facilitated the establishment of community nurseries, on-farm trials, farmer training, and the distribution of millions of plantlets to farmers. Between 2009 and 2013, another program, the Sustainable Improvement of Banana Cropping Systems Programme, expanded these efforts, linking farmers to markets. Farmer-to-farmer dissemination was critical to accelerating adoption.
In 2024, the VCMA program led the design and implementation of an adoption and impact study. Results showed that the adoption rate of SBVs is 48%, resulting in a 15% gain in productivity and a 10 percentage-point rise in the number of surplus producers. With surplus production from higher yields and reduced crop losses, adopters experienced higher caloric consumption. The average per capita daily caloric intake increased by 27% from 2,491 kcal to 3,140 kcal after adoption. As Dr. Mpoki Shimwela, senior banana breeder at TARI, explains, “Because of their high yielding and adaptability, three SBVs (FHIA 17, 23, and 25) with potential yields, ranging from 10 to 70 t/ha/year, are currently undergoing registration by the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI).” This will ensure legal protection, support their integration into the formal seed system, and enable farmers to access certified seeds,” he added.
As production and sales expanded, shifting from home consumption toward income-oriented production, so too did opportunities for women’s agency. Women, who play a central role in banana production, experienced increased income control and greater involvement in household decision-making. SBVs have also broadened opportunities for diversified utilization and value addition. Processors reported shifting toward using SBVs for banana products due to their greater suitability for various culinary and processing qualities, including higher juice yields. Traders entered larger markets in nearby regions (e.g., Shinyanga, Tabora, Geita, Singida, and Mwanza) and distant markets (e.g., Dodoma and Dar es Salaam).
The adoption of SBVs, beyond enabling a steady shift towards market-oriented production, led to a 9.8-percentage-point reduction in the headcount ratio of food insecurity, translating into an estimated 20,934 households, equivalent to 125,602 people, becoming food secure. Further, it stimulated the region’s economy by an estimated additional 119,194 tons (10.5% of the region’s output), contributing to nearly $7 million per annum. Furthermore, farmer-preferred traits of the SBVs that influence adoption decisions were prioritized to inform demand-driven breeding programs. These include high yields, high disease and pest resistance, larger fingers and bunches, minimal organic fertilizer requirements, strong adaptability to poor soil conditions, better quality for juice and brewing, multi-purpose use for cooking, desserts, and roasting, and strong marketability. Altogether, these outcomes demonstrated the transformative power of the strategic R4D partnership from crisis to resilience, inspiring TARI and IITA to develop the recently released improved Matooke hybrids (TARIBAN 1, TARIBAN 2, TARIBAN 3, and TARIBAN 4). The technical and social innovations remain embedded in the partners, ensuring the sustainability of banana production.
Contributed by
Shiferaw Feleke, Arega Alene, Tahirou Abdoulaye, Mpoki Shimwela (TARI), Happiness Zacharia, Mussa Nyaa, Utoni Nkokelo (TARI), and Rony Swennen
Contributing external partner(s):
Mpoki Shimwela (TARI)
Utoni Nkokelo (TARI)