The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research is undergoing a major reform which could lead to the integration of its work on bananas into a research programme that also includes roots and tubers.
Tillage is usually not an issue in perennial banana cropping systems, but scientists in the West French Indies looked into the matter to determine whether periodical tillage is necessary to maintain high yield.
Nearly two-thirds of the bananas produced in Uganda are transported over long distances to reach their markets, a situation that offers limited scope for the sustainable intensification of these faraway banana systems, according to a study by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
Growing bananas in the subtropics presents its own set of challenges, as the talks presented at a symposium on bananas in the subtropics confirmed. Not surprisingly many participants were keen on finding out what climate change models say about the future suitability of the subtropics for growing bananas.
