Banana Value Chains
Executive Summary
Plantain is a staple food in the diet of thousands of people in Latin American and Caribbean countries. In addition, it generates permanent income for small and medium farmers, contributing to the social development of the regions where it is cultivated. However, plantain production requires technological improvement that strengthens the competitiveness of the value chain, mainly in terms of phytosanitary management of the crop with strategies that reduce the use of agro-toxins.
This initiative allowed to strengthen the banana production chain in the project's areas of influence through the active participation of all the actors, generating certified plantain seed of new varieties resistant to pests with market acceptance, and the development of bio-inputs to replace agro toxic in the phytosanitary management of the crop.
The technological solution
Development and use of technologies for the phytosanitary management of plantains, including thermal chambers for the production of hills and seedlings, identification of disease-resistant genotypes, development and use of leachates, biological controllers and low-cost bio-fertilizers that reduced the impact of agrochemicals on the environment, applying a participatory research scheme.
Results
- 30% reduction in total management costs of black Sigatoka in Quindío
- 75% reduction in systemic fungicide costs for Sigatoka control
- Implementation of thermal cameras for plant multiplication: 4 in Colombia, 2 in Venezuela and 2 in Ecuador
- Moko resistant genotypes: (1 plantain, 2 banana)
- Genotypes resistant to black Sigatoka: (4 plantain, 2 banana)
- Weevil resistant genotype: (1 banana)
- Leachate development: Biofertilizer, biofungicide and bactericide
Beneficiaries
- 3 Innovation Groups in Rural Agroindustry GIAR in Ecuador and Colombia
- At least, 183 farmers trained in workshops
- Natives of San Andrés and Providencia who received 4500 seedlings
- Technicians and researchers who strengthened their capacities to generate technology for banana cultivation
Sustainable Development Goals
Participating Organizations
Executor
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) - Colombia
Co-executor
- FEDEPLATANO - Colombia
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP) - Ecuador
- Escuela Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) - Ecuador
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas (INIA) - Venezuela