Articles
APPRAISAL OF DOCUMENTATION OF MUSA LITERATURE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
Article number
928_3
Pages
41 – 46
Language
English
Abstract
Banana and plantains have assumed a status of global recognition as staple diet like roots, tubers and cereals.
Research efforts to improve their quality in major areas of production cannot be over emphasized.
This dimension of economic importance of Musa spp. prompted this study which aims at appraising the current trends of documentation of research in improving the quality of the crop in west and central Africa. Musa scientists in this region with the large diversity of specialization responded to the demand-driven research to catch up with other production zones like the Pacific and Caribbean.
Documentation of results and publications of Musa scientists within the region formed the basic data for analysis of this study.
Analysis of publications of Musa literature was undertaken to assess research deficient areas so as to close the gap for a comprehensive study of the crop.
The findings subjected to bibliographic analysis revealed that emphasis of Musa research is now skewed towards agronomy, molecular biology, marketing and pest management at the expense of post-harvest and value addition.
Moreover, several commodity-based fora organized to bring stakeholders together on Musa research and improvement studies seem to provide opportunities for cross-fertilization of ideas.
This exhibited the need to pay more research attention to storage and post-harvest.
There is also need to elucidate some research areas through bibliographic search for direct access to relevant sources of literature and information management for consolidating research activities as enunciated in the objectives of REDIMA (Musa Documentation and Information Network for Africa). This will assist in harnessing available information and serve as guide for research initiatives and proposals.
Research efforts to improve their quality in major areas of production cannot be over emphasized.
This dimension of economic importance of Musa spp. prompted this study which aims at appraising the current trends of documentation of research in improving the quality of the crop in west and central Africa. Musa scientists in this region with the large diversity of specialization responded to the demand-driven research to catch up with other production zones like the Pacific and Caribbean.
Documentation of results and publications of Musa scientists within the region formed the basic data for analysis of this study.
Analysis of publications of Musa literature was undertaken to assess research deficient areas so as to close the gap for a comprehensive study of the crop.
The findings subjected to bibliographic analysis revealed that emphasis of Musa research is now skewed towards agronomy, molecular biology, marketing and pest management at the expense of post-harvest and value addition.
Moreover, several commodity-based fora organized to bring stakeholders together on Musa research and improvement studies seem to provide opportunities for cross-fertilization of ideas.
This exhibited the need to pay more research attention to storage and post-harvest.
There is also need to elucidate some research areas through bibliographic search for direct access to relevant sources of literature and information management for consolidating research activities as enunciated in the objectives of REDIMA (Musa Documentation and Information Network for Africa). This will assist in harnessing available information and serve as guide for research initiatives and proposals.
Authors
M.A. Adejoro , B.O. Fagbola
Keywords
banana, plantains, bibliography, food security, REDIMA
Online Articles (54)