The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry and Fisheries recently hosted a visit by the Director and Researcher of the Taiwan Banana Research Institute.
Dr. Chih-Ping Chao’s visit from October 22 -28, 2017, was because of a Project Proposal for a “Banana Revitalization Programme: Improving Productivity, Disease Control and Marketing Systems,” to the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF).
The specific objectives of the proposed project are to strengthen institutional capacities to support production and marketing of banana; provide technical support, develop capacity and training to improve the knowledge, and skills of farmers, extension and advisory services, marketers, and other value chain members; as well as improve production and productivity of banana to meet international quality requirements and standards.
During his visit, Dr. Chao met with Ministry officials and industry stakeholders, participated in field trips to both the Windward and Leeward sides of the country to conduct assessments of the Black Sigatoka and Moko diseases, disease control, collection of specimens, observation of plant management operations and conducted a feasibility study of the project.
The project is expected to cost approximately US$4.76 million and implemented over a period of four years – 2019-2022.
