Bananas are grown in diverse subtropical and tropical environments across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. They are cultivated both in a large-scale setting on plantations for commercial use and on small-holder subsistence farms. Particularly for small-holder farmers, bananas can contribute to household food security as a staple and by generating income as a cash crop providing livelihood for the family.
In the framework of the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB), the team of dr. Guy Blomme at Bioversity International conducted research on threats to banana cultivation posed by epidemic diseases, as well developing preventative and mitigating action plans. The sustainable diversification of banana production systems on small-holder subsistence farms was investigated, aiming to improve food security and build resilience of the smallholder cropping system.
BlueGreen labs provided statistical analysis of experimental data, and through extensive literature review contributed to the write-up of scientific publications.
publications
- Banana Fusarium wilt in Laos and Vietnam
- Control options for banana Xanthomonas wilt under Rwandan agro-ecological conditions
- Integrating shade-sensitive annual crops in banana plantations in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Yield assessments of annual crops cultivated under varying banana shade levels
- more publications upcoming
relevant links
- The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas
- Musapedia, the banana knowledge compendium by Promusa
- Research on banana and plantain at IITA
