A taste for something better - introducing improved banana varieties to Burundi

There is a French expression, à chacun son goût - to each his own taste. Palates can evolve, and it is a changing taste that is creating new opportunities for banana farmers in Burundi.

Banana is a staple food crop for households eking out a living on Burundi’s countless hillsides. The level of per-capita consumption here is amongst the highest in the world. But a raft of social, agronomic and plant disease challenges is eroding the ability of farmers to cultivate one of their favourite foods. Vulnerable to diseases such as Xanthomonas wilt and bunchy top, low-yielding, and labour-intensive, the cultivation of traditional banana varieties is becoming counterproductive. There are too many mouths to feed, and with significant urban migration, there is often a shortage of young helping hands to look after the farm. Some farmers have already given up, turning to alternative crops like beans and vegetables...read more