The News Chronicle
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
  • Login
Advertisement
  • News
    • Breaking
    • Business
    • Celebs
    • Sports
    • Africa
    • Technology
    • World News
    • Interviews
  • Social Diary
    • Events
  • Columns
    • Monday
    • Tuesday
    • Wednesday
    • Thursday
    • Friday
    • Sunday
    • Opinions
    • Editorial: Our Stand
  • TNC TV
  • Interviews
  • Books
    • Reviews
    • Author Profiles
  • Entertainment
  • Gist
  • Gossip
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Breaking
    • Business
    • Celebs
    • Sports
    • Africa
    • Technology
    • World News
    • Interviews
  • Social Diary
    • Events
  • Columns
    • Monday
    • Tuesday
    • Wednesday
    • Thursday
    • Friday
    • Sunday
    • Opinions
    • Editorial: Our Stand
  • TNC TV
  • Interviews
  • Books
    • Reviews
    • Author Profiles
  • Entertainment
  • Gist
  • Gossip
No Result
View All Result
The News Chronicle
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Social Diary
  • Columns
  • TNC TV
  • Interviews
  • Books
  • Entertainment
  • Gist

Path Homepage » Africa » Tanzania: Researchers Exhibit High-yielding Banana Hybrids to Boost Food Security

Tanzania: Researchers Exhibit High-yielding Banana Hybrids to Boost Food Security

Akanimo Sampson by Akanimo Sampson
September 8, 2020
in Africa, News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Tanzania: Researchers Exhibit High-yielding Banana Hybrids to Boost Food Security

Mbongo Daud Batson explaining the qualities of the new matooke varieties, called NARITA, during the Nane Nane at Mbeya-Uyole

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

In Tanzania, the East Africa Highland cooking banana, matooke, is a hugely popular food. With the impending release of the first-ever high-yielding hybrids of matooke on the horizon, researchers took the opportunity to exhibit them at this year’s annual agricultural show Nane Nane in the country.

The new hybrids created much excitement among the attending farming community, and they look set to score well with farmers who have been helplessly watching as their banana plants are ravaged by pests and diseases, threatening their income and food security.

RelatedPosts

Addressing maternal mental healthcare in Africa

Addressing maternal mental healthcare in Africa

August 16, 2022
President Buhari Congratulates William Ruto On Election As President Of Kenya

President Buhari Congratulates William Ruto On Election As President Of Kenya

August 16, 2022
Soludo Moves To Tackle Perennial Flooding Challenge In Anambra Community

Soludo Moves To Tackle Perennial Flooding Challenge In Anambra Community

August 16, 2022

One such farmer, Anacret Rweyemamu from Katoma village who visited the banana demonstration plot at the Nane Nane grounds in Bukoba, Kagera Region, was excited to hear about the NARITA hybrids.

He learned that they were developed from and tasted just as good as their traditional “matooke” varieties such as Mbwazirume and Nshakara and that they are resistant to the deadly nematodes and weevils.

President Buhari Mourns Jigawa Apc Stalwart, Says A Good Man Has Been Lost
Trending
President Buhari Mourns Jigawa Apc Stalwart, Says A Good Man Has Been Lost

“If what I have heard about the NARITA hybrids is true, then this is very good news for farmers in Kagera Region as, finally, we will have aMulokozi for our traditional Matooke, Anacret said. “

‘Mulokozi’ means saviour in the local Haya language spoken in Kagera Region.

“Our plantations have suffered a lot because of nematodes and weevils. We have lost many plants during strong winds, and as a result, our plantations are now dominated by FHIA, and Yangambi Km 5. I, therefore, cannot wait until these new matooke hybrids are officially released”, he adds as he also requested some of the planting materials of the hybrid to start planting on his farm.

The hybrids were developed jointly by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Uganda’s National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO), over 18 years.

Breeding new bananas is particularly difficult and takes a long time. To reflect the combined involvement of both organisations in this effort, NARO and IITA, they have been named NARITA.

IITA, together with the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI), NARO, and Bioversity International, has been evaluating these new hybrids in Tanzania since 2015, to establish which ones are the most suitable for the growing conditions and which are most acceptable to farmers as well as consumers.

The improved matooke varieties most preferred by farmers and consumers were exhibited at the annual agricultural shows at Simiyu, Mbeya, Kagera, and Arusha regions, by the TARI banana breeding team between 1 and 10 August 2020.

NDLEA uncovers 442 parcels of Crystal Meth in heads of smoked fish in Lagos as returnee excretes 77 wraps of Cocaine at Enugu airport
Trending
NDLEA uncovers 442 parcels of Crystal Meth in heads of smoked fish in Lagos as returnee excretes 77 wraps of Cocaine at Enugu airport

Under the direction of the National Coordinator for banana research in Tanzania, Dr Mpoki Shimwela, based at TARI-Maruku in Kagera Region, 29 NARITA hybrids were evaluated for yield, resistance to major pests and diseases, and for their taste in Mbeya, Kagera, and Kilimanjaro regions. These are among the most important banana growing and consuming areas in the country.

“From the trials, we have selected 10 varieties that are yielding 30% higher than farmers are currently getting and which have good resistance to major pests and diseases. These have been identified for future release in Tanzania through the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI)”, Mpoki said while speaking to the media at the national exhibition at Nyakabindi ground in Simiyu Region.

In Tanzania, cooking bananas are essential as a staple food crop, providing carbohydrates for about a third of the population. However, their production is substantially low, at just 10% of their true potential, due to attacks by pests and diseases, drought, and other factors.

The evaluation of the NARITA in Tanzania, and also in Uganda, is supported by the IITA-led Accelerated  Breeding Better Banana project.

This unique project seeks to improve the production and productivity of banana in Tanzania and Uganda, through the development and delivery of hybrid banana varieties that are expected to have 30% higher yield compared to the current varieties grown by farmers under the same conditions.

Together, these two countries account for more than half of the Eastern Africa Highland bananas grown in Africa, and which is valued at around $4.3 billion.

This pain is too much for me, leave Manchester United, Mr Macaroni tells Ronaldo
Trending
This pain is too much for me, leave Manchester United, Mr Macaroni tells Ronaldo

However, access to improved varieties has, to date, not been possible, as they have not been available. Due to the complicated and lengthy process of breeding bananas, it has taken time to develop and evaluate these varieties. The release of these new high yielding varieties, with good resistance to pests and diseases, therefore, creates a historic milestone for banana research and banana agriculture in the region.

And the good news does not end there. The Accelerated banana project is focused on increasing the speed and efficiency of breeding new, better, higher-yielding bananas for the region, to deliver more improved varieties of cooking banana to farmers faster.

Hot Gist

  • “The precise mechanism of action in chloroquine is poorly understood”, Pharmacist Iniobong Usen
  • The Story Vault. #1. Love
  • Sunday Reflections
  • Catherine M. O’Meara’s Optimism in Crisis, and Comparison between the 1918 and 2019 Pandemics

Tags: Banana Hybridsfood securityNane NaneTanzania

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

UNCTAD Officials Say Small Island, Coastal Nations at Risk from Oil Spills

Next Post

Nigeria: Yam Producer Storms IITA for Latest Seedlings to Meet Export Demands

Related Posts

Addressing maternal mental healthcare in Africa

Addressing maternal mental healthcare in Africa

August 16, 2022
President Buhari Congratulates William Ruto On Election As President Of Kenya

President Buhari Congratulates William Ruto On Election As President Of Kenya

August 16, 2022
Soludo Moves To Tackle Perennial Flooding Challenge In Anambra Community

Soludo Moves To Tackle Perennial Flooding Challenge In Anambra Community

August 16, 2022
Atiku, Okowa, Fintiri, receive 160,000 decampees from APC

Atiku, Okowa, Fintiri, receive 160,000 decampees from APC

August 16, 2022
Anambra FRSC Advises Motorists Against Overspeeding As Two Die, Five Injured In Fatal Crash

Anambra FRSC Advises Motorists Against Overspeeding As Two Die, Five Injured In Fatal Crash

August 16, 2022

CSOs Urge Fashola to Protect Whistleblower at Ministry of Works and Housing

August 16, 2022
Next Post
Nigeria: Yam Producer Storms IITA for Latest Seedlings to Meet Export Demands

Nigeria: Yam Producer Storms IITA for Latest Seedlings to Meet Export Demands

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

What's New?

Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Jaga Jaga’ And Nigeria’s Mess
Opinions

   Becoming Poverty Champions; How Did We Do It

by Olugbenga Jaiyesimi
August 16, 2022
0

Nigeria was destined to be World Football Champions by the year 2020, what we achieved was world poverty champions. This...

Read more
Jurgen Klopp speaks positively of his players following a frustrating draw at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp speaks positively of his players following a frustrating draw at Anfield

August 16, 2022
Addressing maternal mental healthcare in Africa

Addressing maternal mental healthcare in Africa

August 16, 2022
Prev Next
The News Chronicle

© 2022 The News Chronicle

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Breaking
    • Business
    • Celebs
    • Sports
    • Africa
    • Technology
    • World News
    • Interviews
  • Social Diary
    • Events
  • Columns
    • Monday
    • Tuesday
    • Wednesday
    • Thursday
    • Friday
    • Sunday
    • Opinions
    • Editorial: Our Stand
  • TNC TV
  • Interviews
  • Books
    • Reviews
    • Author Profiles
  • Entertainment
  • Gist

© 2022 The News Chronicle

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

News updates based on facts and evidence.