Biotechnology for sustainable banana and plantain production in Africa: the South African contribution

Abstract

Sustainable production of banana, plantain and enset
in Africa is crucial to secure food and provide income to millions of people.
These crops, however, are severely threatened by diseases, pests and
environmental constraints. Most bananas in Africa are produced by small-scale
farmers who often do not have the financial resources for sustained production
by means of the application of chemical fertilisers, fungicides and pesticides.
Biotechnology can provide a means whereby plants can be improved for
sustainable cultivation. Applications of biotechnology include tissue culture
technology, development of molecular markers, and genetic transformation.
Biotechnology, however, should not be used in isolation to solve the problems
in banana and plantain production in Africa, but should be incorporated into
integrated disease and pest management programmes. South Africa has the
infrastructure and capacity to play an important role in the training of
scientists, research on production constraints, and implementation of
biotechnological advances for the rest of Africa.

South African Journal of Botany
2004, 70(1): 67–74