Musa research project now complete

Africa Science News reports that scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have now concluded a five-year project to improve plant breeding techniques and develop new cultivars in order to increase yields of Musa crops (banana and plantain) for application in poverty reduction and income generation efforts throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The project also developed new methods for deploying the varieties in a way that preserves traditional varieties while offering additional value-adding processing options. IITA has global responsibility for banana and plantain research.