Articles
HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF BANANA AND PLANTAIN IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH
Article number
897_71
Pages
495 – 506
Language
English
Abstract
Banana and plantain was one of the earliest crops domesticated by man and it continues to be an important food crop for millions of smallholders as well as an important high-value crop in international trade, providing nutritional and economic security.
It is grown in around 150 countries across the world, with around 128 million tonnes produced annually on an area of 10 million hectares.
Asia contributes 55-60% of the global production, and has in the last 6 years recorded a production growth rate of 11%. India, the largest producer of banana in the world, witnessed unprecedented growth during this period, due to improved production technologies, which include adoption of high-yielding clones, high-density planting, integrated management of water, nutrients, pests and diseases, and use of disease-free, in vitro propagated planting material.
Similar is the case in other Asian countries, with Chinese Taipei and the Philippines producing mainly for export through contract farming systems and the other Asian countries producing mainly for domestic consumption and trade by small farmers.
BAPNET, the regional banana and plantain network for Asia and the Pacific, is fostering collaborative banana research among its 13 member countries and two research institutes.
Looking at the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for banana in Asia and the Pacific, it is evident that the region has a rich diversity of Musa which needs exploitation.
The main thrust of the network has indeed been collection, conservation, evaluation and utilisation of banana diversity, testing of new hybrids, exchange of germplasm and capacity building.
At the same time, biotic and abiotic stresses are many.
Biotic problems include viruses, fungal and bacterial diseases and insect pests, while abiotic stresses include drought, salinity and various vagaries of climates.
Fusarium wilt is but one example of a devastating disease, with no transboundary restrictions.
Race 4 of Fusarium wilt has already spread to China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Australia.
In this regard, BAPNET and its member countries are drawing management strategies, including internal and transboundary quarantine, sanitation, early detection, improving soil health, biological control and altered crop production systems.
Production of disease-free tissue-culture planting material and diagnostics and the establishment of a certification system in some of the countries have been milestone achievements.
International initiatives on genetic resources, management of diseases and insect pests, water productivity and nutrition, post-harvest management and processing remain crucially important to ensure nutritional and livelihood security and enhance the income of smallholders.
Efforts of Bioversity International have, through various programmes, improved the understanding of genomics, diversity, biotic and abiotic stresses and augmentation of genetic resources for gene transfer.
The horizontal and vertical integration with National Agricultural Research Systems allows to better address the many problems of smallholder banana farmers.
It is grown in around 150 countries across the world, with around 128 million tonnes produced annually on an area of 10 million hectares.
Asia contributes 55-60% of the global production, and has in the last 6 years recorded a production growth rate of 11%. India, the largest producer of banana in the world, witnessed unprecedented growth during this period, due to improved production technologies, which include adoption of high-yielding clones, high-density planting, integrated management of water, nutrients, pests and diseases, and use of disease-free, in vitro propagated planting material.
Similar is the case in other Asian countries, with Chinese Taipei and the Philippines producing mainly for export through contract farming systems and the other Asian countries producing mainly for domestic consumption and trade by small farmers.
BAPNET, the regional banana and plantain network for Asia and the Pacific, is fostering collaborative banana research among its 13 member countries and two research institutes.
Looking at the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for banana in Asia and the Pacific, it is evident that the region has a rich diversity of Musa which needs exploitation.
The main thrust of the network has indeed been collection, conservation, evaluation and utilisation of banana diversity, testing of new hybrids, exchange of germplasm and capacity building.
At the same time, biotic and abiotic stresses are many.
Biotic problems include viruses, fungal and bacterial diseases and insect pests, while abiotic stresses include drought, salinity and various vagaries of climates.
Fusarium wilt is but one example of a devastating disease, with no transboundary restrictions.
Race 4 of Fusarium wilt has already spread to China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Australia.
In this regard, BAPNET and its member countries are drawing management strategies, including internal and transboundary quarantine, sanitation, early detection, improving soil health, biological control and altered crop production systems.
Production of disease-free tissue-culture planting material and diagnostics and the establishment of a certification system in some of the countries have been milestone achievements.
International initiatives on genetic resources, management of diseases and insect pests, water productivity and nutrition, post-harvest management and processing remain crucially important to ensure nutritional and livelihood security and enhance the income of smallholders.
Efforts of Bioversity International have, through various programmes, improved the understanding of genomics, diversity, biotic and abiotic stresses and augmentation of genetic resources for gene transfer.
The horizontal and vertical integration with National Agricultural Research Systems allows to better address the many problems of smallholder banana farmers.
Publication
Authors
H.P. Singh
Keywords
BAPNET, biotic and abiotic stress, cultivars, India, integrated crop management, planting material, yield
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