Over the past week, the Mzumbe University pavilion at the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair has been buzzing with activity. Banana growers have flocked to see a newly developed, disease-resistant banana seedling created by Gerald Cosmas Mabuto, a third-year student from the Tanzanian university.
The trade fair, themed "Tanzania: Your Best Destination for Business and Investment," runs from June 28 to July 13 and has become a prominent showcase for products from Tanzania and other African countries.
"I almost gave up growing bananas on my two-hectare farm after my crops were devastated by disease. But this new banana seedling has rekindled my hope," said Richard Kimambo, a resident of Rombo District in the banana-growing Kilimanjaro Region.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, banana production in Tanzania has been increasing by an average of 5 percent per year, reaching 3.2 million tonnes in 2022. Kilimanjaro produces an average of 700,000 to 1 million tonnes of bananas annually, with the aim of increasing production to 1.5 million tonnes per year.
Kimambo was among hundreds of visitors to the pavilion, where Mabuto showcased his innovative banana seedling, resistant to climate change and banana diseases. Born into a farming community, Mabuto's parents are also farmers, giving him hands-on experience in developing the variety. After learning about the challenges banana growers faced with accessing banana seedlings and the devastation caused by diseases, Mabuto was driven to create a new banana seedling variety.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Mabuto said he produces the seedlings using natural and organic methods, a process that took him four years of research starting in 2020. The main advantage of these seedlings is their ability to withstand climate change and diseases such as fusarium wilt, a devastating fungal disease that severely affects banana cultivation.
The 26-year-old student, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in human resource management, said this new seedling has a shorter fruit production period of eight to 11 months compared to 15 to 18 months for other varieties, which will help increase banana production in Tanzania.
Mabuto is conducting his research project in the Mbeya Region, one of Tanzania's main banana-producing areas, with suitable climate and soil conditions for banana cultivation. His innovations have been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology.
"My message to banana farmers in Tanzania is to use this type of banana seedling, which can increase production and address challenges such as disease and climate change," Mabuto said. He plans to further improve and expand the production and distribution of this banana seedling to other regions of Tanzania.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Hussein Mohamed Omar visited Mabuto at his pavilion on Wednesday and encouraged him to continue his innovations. "You are doing an excellent job, and the government assures you of its support," Omar said, adding that banana plantations affected by disease and climate change should be replanted with the new banana seedlings developed by the students to increase the crop's productivity.
The ministry is developing a plan for agricultural development that focuses on research and innovation, Omar said. "Whenever someone comes up with an agricultural innovation, it is a bonus for the government because it complements efforts to boost agricultural production."
