Community training manual on macro-propagation using detached corms

Within the framework of a Bioversity International project titled “Addressing micronutrient deficiencies in sub –Saharan Africa through Musa – based foods”, banana varieties rich in vitamin A originally from outside East and Central Africa were introduced in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. To increase the availability and quality of planting material in communities, training on macro-propagation using detached corms was conducted in project sites. This manual uses a training of trainer approach to cover the different actions and processes required to successfully multiply banana planting materials using a range of available materials

Recipes for vitamin A-rich bananas: developed for South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

Recipes were developed through a participatory process with banana farmers in South Kivu, DRC to incorporate the Vitamin A-rich bananas and improve the nutrient quality of the meals. Recipes are applicable among banana producing and consuming regions of Eastern Africa. The Vitamin A-rich bananas mentioned in these recipes are naturally rich in vitamin A and they are from the countries in the table

Agronomic performance of provitamin A-rich banana cultivars in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Banana researchers have been evaluating the performance of high provitaminA banana cultivars to Vitamin A deficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of six provitamin A-rich banana cultivars originally from outside Burundi and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Growth and yield parameters were collected for the first, second and third crop cycles. Results revealed that growth and yield parameters were significantly affected by the interaction between sites and cultivars. The most promising cultivars in terms of yield were ‘Apantu-AAB’, ‘Lahi-AAB’, ‘Lai- AA’, ‘Bira-AAB’ and ‘Pelipita-ABB’ across all sites and crop cycles. These evaluations provide hard evidence of the high potential for adoption of the most promising cultivars by farming communities

Banana pest risk assessment along banana trade axes running from low to high altitude sites, in the Eastern DR Congo and in Burundi

Pests and diseases greatly contribute to the decline in banana yields, food and income insecurity in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Understanding people’s role in pest and disease spread at landscape level is crucial for effective pest and disease management. To determine this, focus group discussions (FGDs) targeting 10 experienced farmers (50% female and 50% male) were conducted in 27 villages along four banana trade routes in western Burundi and eastern DR Congo. FGDs determined the presence and risk of spread of key banana pests and diseases via the movement of banana bunches, planting material and other products, labourers, traders and farm tools. Black leaf streak (BLS), Fusarium wilt and banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) were reported to have been in the landscape for over 40 years while Xanthomonas wilt (XW) was a more recent introduction (1-7 years). BBTD, XW and weevils were the most prevalent constraints. BBTD was observed at previously unsuitable high-altitude zones, which should be a cause of concern, especially with the current risk of climate change. Climate change, and linked temperature increases, could also worsen the prevalence of XW, weevils, nematodes and BLS. Movement of farming tools by labourers and traders, of planting material/suckers and banana bunches emerged as the most common human practices potentially responsible for the spread and/or build-up of banana pests/diseases. Strengthening farmer’s knowledge and institutional capacities of actors on these different modes of disease spread in banana value chains in the region is recommended

Recettes pour les bananes riches en Vitamine A: Développées pour le Sud Kivu, République Démocratique du Congo

Les recettes ont été dévelopées à travers une approche participative avec les cultivateurs du bananier du Sud Kivu, en RDC, pour incorporer les bananes riches en vitamine A dans les repas et améliorer leur qualité nutritionnelle. Ces recettes sont applicables dans les régions de l'Afrique de l'Est qui produisent et consomment la banane. Ces bananes mentionnées dans ces recettes sont naturellement riches en Vitamine A et sont originaires des pays se trouvant dans ce tableau