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 biologicals to replace agrotoxins 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 suckers 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

Beneficiaries

• 3 Innovation Groups in Rural Agroindustry in Ecuador and Colombia
• At least 183 farmers trained in workshops
• Natives of San Andrés and Providencia who received 4,500 seedlings
• Technicians and researchers who strengthened their capacities to generate technology for plantain cultivation

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products