Increasing banana production through regional R&D network

Los Banos, Laguna – Current Philippine banana research and development (R&D) efforts promise enormous benefits to the economy.

Among the many tropical fruits in the country banana dominates the fruit industry in hectarage and production. The Philippines ranks fifth among banana producing countries in the world, while the whole of Asia boasts of the greatest wealth of banana germplasm in the entire world.

Far from simply providing for the demands of the local market, the country’s banana R&D goals have broadened to include meeting the standards of globalization despite its limited public investment in R&D. Because of this, the country’s active involvement as member of Banana Asia-Pacific Network (BAPNET) is well rationalized.

Along with nine other countries, the Philippines is an active member of BAPNET, a regional R&D network functioning within the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutes (APAARI). BAPNET coordinates regional collaboration and communication among banana researchers and assists in the inter-regional exchange of information.

During the Seventh APAARI General Assembly Meeting and Expert Consultation on Strengthening Research Partnership through Network and Consortia held in Penang, Malaysia, Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, executive director of the Los Banos-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)- Department of Science and Technology (DOST), underscored the need for regional cooperation toward a coherent banana R&D strategy. Such strategy, Faylon said must be based on the needs and priorities of the participating National Agricultural Research System (NARS).

The BAPNET priority areas for regional complementation in banana R&D , as identified by the NARS members, include: sustainable crop management; genetic diversity management, development, and utilization; supply chain management; human resource development; and information development and exchange.

Based on these priority areas, BAPNET will pursue specific short-term activities such as the creation of an effective electronic communication system for the NARS network members, human resources development in the areas of germplasm management and integrated pest management; in-country evaluation and adoption of improved varieties and superior landraces; Musa information development and exchange; and germplasm collecting, conservation and characterization. With the international Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific as secretariat, BAPNET functions under the guidance of a steering committee, chaired by Dr. Patricio S. Faylon.

BAPNET’s first steering committee meeting which was held in Los Baños, Laguna, was co-hosted by PCARRD and the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). – JLS