A disease-resistant banana seedling developed by Gerald Cosmas Mabuto, a third-year student from a Tanzanian university, has rekindled hope among farmers at the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.
DAR ES SALAAM, July 12 (Xinhua) — The Mzumbe University pavilion at the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair has been bustling, as banana growers came to see the new disease-resistant banana seedling created by Gerald Cosmas Mabuto, a third-year student.
The fair, themed “Tanzania: Your Best Destination for Business and Investment,” runs from June 28 to July 13 and showcases products from Tanzania and other African countries.
“I almost gave up growing bananas after my crops were devastated by disease. But this new seedling has rekindled my hope,” said Richard Kimambo from the banana-growing Kilimanjaro Region.
Banana production in Tanzania has increased by 5 percent annually, reaching 3.2 million tonnes in 2022. Kilimanjaro produces 700,000 to 1 million tonnes annually, with a target of 1.5 million tonnes.
Kimambo was among many visitors to see Mabuto’s innovative seedling, resistant to climate change and diseases. Raised in a farming family, Mabuto began developing the variety in 2020, using natural methods over four years of research.
The seedlings are resistant to fusarium wilt, a devastating fungal disease, and have a shorter fruit production period of eight to 11 months compared to 15 to 18 months for other varieties. This is expected to boost Tanzania’s banana production.
Conducting his research in the Mbeya Region, Mabuto’s work has been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology. He plans to expand production and distribution across Tanzania.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Hussein Mohamed Omar praised Mabuto’s work and assured government support. He emphasizes that innovations like his are crucial for increasing agricultural productivity and combating diseases and climate change. The Ministry is focusing on research and innovation to boost agricultural development.
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