New publication: The Wild Bananas – a catalogue of wild Musa species and tribute to Markku Häkkinen.
The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, under the framework of the global banana research network MusaNet, has published a catalogue of wild Musa (banana) species, which is also a tribute to the late banana taxonomist Markku Häkkinen. The 233 page catalogue is authored by Gabriel Sachter-Smith, banana taxonomist and farmer,
XII International Symposium on Banana: Celebrating Banana Organic Production
The XII International Symposium on banana: Celebrating banana organic production was organized as part of the 31st International Horticultural Congress held in Angers, France, from 14 to 20 August 2022. The symposium took stock of recent developments in organic banana production and was attended by around 75 participants from across
Largest plantain nursery (100 acres) in Ghana to distribute 1.5 million seedlings to farmers
Two private-sector companies in Ghana have invested in the promotion of science and technology to support the plantain industry and farmers’ livelihoods. Kumad Global Impact LTD and Afarinick Company LTD have adopted the macropropagation technique to establish 100 acres of plantain nursery at Dadieso in the Suaman district of the
Jorge Sandoval se jubila tras 26 años trabajando en el sector del plátano en CORBANA, Costa Rica
Jorge Sandoval, Director de Investigación de la Corporación Bananera Nacional (CORBANA) en Costa Rica, y un representante regional de MusaNet para MusaLAC (red bananera para América Latina y el Caribe). Aquí reflexiona sobre su carrera en una discusión con Rachel Chase de la Alianza de Bioversity International y CIAT.
Interview with Priver Namanya Bwesigye
Priver Namanya Bwesigye, head of Uganda’s banana research programme at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), recounts how despite being a girl in a traditional society, her father encouraged her to go to school, which then allowed her to pursue a career in banana research.
How can we break tool-mediated spread of Xanthomonas wilt? Wash your garden tools with soap!
For the past 2 decades, Xanthomonas wilt of banana (aka XW) has severely compromised the livelihoods of millions of banana dependent households in the East and Central African (ECA) region. Where XW has occurred, it has reduced the availability of banana in households and markets; often increased food prices, food and income insecurity; led to loss of key ecosystem services (e.g. erosion control) and in general led to socio-economic insecurity. Like the coronavirus that quickly spreads within a susceptible human population, the bacterial pathogen that causes XW can disperse rapidly through a population of susceptible banana plants.
