Bananas and plantains are lifelines for millions in developing countries, particularly across Africa. Among the wide edible varieties, the East African Highland Banana (EAHB) alone accounts for 17% of all Musa grown worldwide, with plantain accounting for another 19%. For smallholder farmers, who are primarily producers, these crops provide both daily nourishment and income. Given their importance, researchers are working to accelerate their breeding.
IITA–CGIAR and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) recently (28 September to 2 October) organized a Banana and Plantain Breeding Network meeting at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Arusha, Tanzania. The meeting brought together nine national banana and plantain programs comprising scientists and research partners to strengthen collaboration and share knowledge to improve banana and plantain breeding across the East and African regions.
IITA Banana Crop Lead, Prof. Rony Swennen, opened the meeting by highlighting the rising demand for bananas and plantains. He noted that both plantain and Matooke researchers stand to benefit from closer collaboration, which can lead to more effective results.
“With our network now set up, we must consider how to work together more efficiently, and the key word is standardization across all programs,” Prof. Swennen said. “Taking part in the selection process makes you an essential part of this breeding community. Local selections have a regional impact. Each person’s role in breeding and selection is important. Your commitment is valued, both now and in years to come.”
During the workshop, participants received practical training on tools such as MusaBase, Ontology, Field Book, and field layout design. These sessions focused on collecting, managing, organizing, and sharing reliable data, which is essential for effective breeding.
Participants also went to the field to apply what they had learned. This experience helped them understand field activities and use the new tools with greater confidence. “The more you use these tools, the more skilled and confident you become. There is much to learn in the field than what a classroom session can cover,” explained Stanley Bayo, Data Manager from IITA.
The group also visited the partners’ fields, including TARI-Tengeru and farmers’ fields, where they observed banana evaluation trials and how local conditions affect the performance of different varieties. At TARI-Tengeru, they observed a demonstration of the sensory evaluation tool used to assess banana quality and consumer preferences. They also toured the Maua Mazuri Tissue Culture Laboratory and hardening nursery to learn about the multiplication of formerly released cooking banana varieties.
“Seeing the fieldwork up close gave us a better understanding of banana and plantain diversity, and how varieties respond to different environments. This showed the value in testing breeding materials in various places to identify those that perform well,” said Dr Victor Amankwaah, the banana research lead at CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana.
He added, “The sensory evaluation program was interesting and helped us see how understanding preferences can guide breeders to develop varieties that meet consumers’ needs.”
Dr Michael Batte, the postdoctoral fellow and banana breeder at IITA, highlighted the importance of data management and timely uploads for the project. He said several partners, including TARI, had already begun sharing data. The network plans to establish multi-environment trials in all member countries, starting with Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with some trials expected in Nigeria later this year.
The banana breeding network aims to allow the banana program to expand pre-breeding work to develop specific assets needed to transform banana breeding across Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Ivory Coast.
Contributed by
Hadi Rashid, Rony Swennen and Michael Batte