Gombe, DR Congo. 4Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, P.O. Box 212, Kisangani, DR Congo. 5INERA-Mvuazi, P.O. Box 2037, Kinshasa 1, DR Congo.
An Innovation Capacity Analysis to Identify Strategies for Improving Plantain and Banana (Musa spp.) Productivity and Value Addition in the Democratic Republic of Congo P. Mobambo1, C. Staver2, S. Hauser3, B. Dheda4 and G. Vangu5 1 University of Kinshasa and Bioversity, P.O. Box 785, Kinshasa XI, DR Congo 2 Bioversity, Parc Scientifique Agropolis II, 34397 Montpellier, France 3 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-DR Congo, Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques (INERA), 13, Av. des Cliniques, KinshasaGombe, DR Congo 4 Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, P.O. Box 212, Kisangani, DR Congo 5 INERA-Mvuazi, P.O. Box 2037, Kinshasa 1, DR Congo Keywords: Musa sector, multi-stakeholder, productivity Abstract The agricultural sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to suffer from declining productivity after a decade of civil unrest and underinvestment. Plantain and banana (Musa spp.) are considered the second most important staple crop after cassava (Manihot esculenta). The Congo basin is a secondary centre of plantain diversity in the world. The area planted with plantain/banana declined from over 400,000 ha in the early 90s to less than 150,000 ha presently. Yields are low and declining and plantain become too expensive for poor urban households. There are numerous political, economic, social and technological constraints to increase the contribution of banana and plantain to household, community and the national economy. A number of priorities for action were identified: (a) simple and low cost strategies to estimate production and planted areas and the extent of serious pest and disease threats to guide investment in areas with the greatest impact; (b) mapping of production potential based on soils, climate and water sources and ease of market access to prioritize investment in intensification; (c) piloting of clean seed systems to contain the spread and impact of Banana bunchy top virus, and Xanthomonas wilt, to multiply highly productive clones of preferred cultivars and to conserve plantain diversity; (d) technology for land productivity stabilization and improvement, depending on access to infrastructure and natural resource quality; (e) improving field access to information on new technologies to farmers and their associations, public extension and non-governmental organizations and rural school teachers; and (f) farmer and village marketing organizations to capture greater value from plantain and banana markets where clean seed and improved land productivity are piloted. INTRODUCTION The agricultural sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to suffer from declining productivity after a decade of civil unrest and underinvestment. Crop production and area planted to the primary staple crops, such as cassava (Manihot esculenta) and plantain (Musa spp.) have declined between 20 and 60%, although ten years ago, DRC was the largest producer of plantain in Africa (FAO, 1998; Akyeampong, 1999). Over 70% of the country’s population suffers from food insecurity, while only 10% of the cultivable land is under production in spite of favorable climate throughout the country (Huart, 2007). Plantain is considered as the second most important staple crop after cassava in DRC and the Congo basin is a secondary centre of plantain diversity in the world. However, area planted to plantain has declined from over 400,000 ha in the early 90s to less than 150,000 ha presently. Sweet banana (Musa spp.) production has suffered similar declines. Yields in both crops are low and declining. As a result, plantain and banana have become too expensive for poor urban households. Proc. IC on Banana & Plantain in Africa Eds.: T. Dubois et al. Acta Hort. 879, ISHS 2010
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Two new problems, Xanthomonas wilt (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum) and Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) are further reducing plantain and banana production in the country. In addition, plantain and banana suffer from globally important pests (nematodes and weevils), diseases (Black leaf streak, Fusarium wilt) and from the gradual decline in soil fertility as fallows become increasingly shorter. The rehabilitation of Musa production for income generation and food security in DRC is a formidable challenge. There are numerous political, economic, social and technological constraints to increase the contribution of banana and plantain to household, community and the national economy. Innovative approaches based on multi-stakeholder planning, implementation and monitoring to identify best-guess bottlenecks and opportunities and to develop initial priorities are needed where the public sector is only recently recovering from decades of civil strife. This paper is a preliminary review using the agricultural, science and technology innovation (ASTI) framework to assemble available information for guiding the rehabilitation of plantain and banana production. We attempt to identify priority regions and actions based on somewhat unreliable and outof-date statistics and qualitative perspectives from the authors. METHODOLOGY The ASTI methodology is used to analyze the banana and plantain sector in DRC (CTA, 2005). Information was compiled from secondary sources on production and consumption, trading channels and research, education and policy elements. Official documents were reviewed. They included the most recent statistics published in 1996 on various sectors of administrative structures, population, agriculture and reports on ecological conditions. PRODUCTION SECTOR OF BANANA AND PLANTAIN The DRC is the third largest African country (2,345,000 km2), after Sudan and Algeria, with a population of around 71 million people. Around 70% of population is rural, engaged in subsistence agriculture. The average household cultivates less than 0.5 ha. Currently only 10% of the cultivable land is used. DRC has the second largest area of unutilized land with potential for agriculture in the world, second only to Brazil and slightly greater than Russia and USA (Huart, 2007). Throughout the country, the ecological and climatic conditions are favorable to agriculture (Table 1). Based on the most recent statistics published in 1996, DRC produced over 2 million t of plantain and over 408,000 t of banana. The estimated total area cultivated was 477,936 ha (Table 2). In all provinces of the country, plantain and banana are cultivated. There are perennial plantations in North and South Kivu. Plantain production for home consumption based on fallow or forest clearing and in backyard gardens is dominant in the other provinces (Table 1). Banana bunchy top virus has been present for several decades but recently has begun to cause more significant yield losses. Vangu et al. (2007) found almost total loss of production and income from banana production in several villages in Cataractes in which the disease broke out in recent years, although a survey of three districts of BasCongo showed that some villages still did not report the presence of the disease (Vangu et al., 2007). In suckers of unique AAB germplasm collected around Kisangani, Banana bunchy top virus was found in most of the material, although no visual symptoms were identified (Dheda, pers. commun.). The distribution of the disease and the extent of losses have not been fully surveyed, but informal observation indicates it is also a threat in the eastern regions of the country. In Eastern Congo an outbreak of Xanthomonas wilt was first reported in 2001 (Ndungo et al., 2004), but more recent surveys indicate infestation of over 65% of banana fields in three districts in North Kivu (Mwangi and Nakato, pers. commun.) and even in Ituri (Province Orientale) (Dowiya et al., pers. commun.). Beer bananas are most severely affected with almost total loss of production, while other cultivars sometimes escape infestation. The disease continues to spread. 822
Other pests and diseases such as nematodes, weevils and leaf diseases are widespread throughout all production areas. However, the extent of losses to pest and disease problems has not been quantified and is difficult to separate from low crop yields due to declining soil fertility and weed infestations as shorter and shorter fallows are cleared. CONSUMPTION AND TRADE OF BANANA AND PLANTAIN Production of plantains and dessert bananas to serve the large urban centers can be found in all provinces (Table 3). Traders have extensive contacts and use multiple lowcost means to gather dispersed production for transport to urban areas. River transportation is slow, roads are poorly maintained and vehicles are old and subject to breakdown. This results in high cost and unreliable food supplies to urban areas and in many cases importing major staple foods is more profitable than producing them locally. The development of infrastructure to access markets seems to be the most important driver of intensification of banana production. In Uganda for instance, the proportion of banana which is treated with sanitation practices and manure is higher in areas with relatively good access to markets (Katungi et al., 2006). BANANA AND PLANTAIN KEY ACTORS The main actors actually involved in the production to consumption chain of banana and plantain in DRC are essentially farmers, traders, retailers, consumers and to a very limited extent researchers. According to ASTI categories (CTA, 2005), we can classify actors in the following components (Table 4). Farm households have very few formal sources of information on resolving their production problems in banana and plantain. The immediate areas around universities, Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques (INERA) research stations, occasional projects of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public sector have provided some access to new cultivars and new production technologies. Investment in agricultural research and training is at a very low level. Salaries are extremely poor and are often not paid for months. No resources are available for research activities, except through grant funds from international sources. Teaching on agriculture at university level addresses production problems on banana and plantain, although without national research, university courses have little application to specific local problems. At the farm level, the public extension service and NGOs have limited coverage and poor access to information and services to improve their methods and content. As a result, extension does not have technical content applicable to householdproduction problems. Financial institutions that are suited to provide credit to smallholder farmers to improve their technical efficiency are not found in DRC. As experienced in Uganda, investment in extension enables farmers to adopt new farming techniques and to be able to raise their productivity (Kikulwe et al., 2006). Government policy is virtually absent in areas as plant quarantine, clean seed systems, genetic diversity conservation and infrastructure investment. A piloting group on Musa sector has been set up to design specific policy on banana and plantain work in DRC. This group set up during a workshop organized by Bioversity International in Kinshasa, June 2007, serves as a contact group for banana and plantain work in DRC to orient government agencies, private sector and donors with priorities and strategies to reactivate the Musa sector. This group is still establishing contact with all researchers on the Musa sector in DRC and has proposed short and medium term projects which address the emerging threats and the on-going limitations for the Musa sector. A number of priority issues were identified by the authors based on the initial piloting group workshop and the sector review: (a) simple and low-cost strategies to estimate production and planted areas and the extent of serious pest and disease threats to guide investment in areas with greatest impact and leverage to surrounding areas; (b) mapping of production potential based on soils, climate and water sources and ease of market access to prioritize investment in intensification; (c) piloting of clean seed systems 823
to contain the spread and impact of BBTV and Xanthomonas wilt, to multiply preferred cultivars and to conserve plantain diversity; (d) technology for land productivity stabilization and improvement, including agroforestry techniques for more remote areas, the linkage of animal raising with banana production in areas with higher population densities and efficient use of fertilizers in commercial production with good road infrastructure; (e) improving field access to information on new technologies to farmers and their associations, public extension, NGOs and rural school teachers, especially on clean seed and land productivity-improvement measures; (f) farmer and village marketing organizations to capture greater value from plantain and banana markets where clean seed and improved land productivity are piloted. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS This preliminary review using the ASTI framework suggests that DRC has many basic needs to strengthen their capacity to address future development problems and opportunities. These include basic water, health and education services to their population and transport infrastructure. The agricultural research and training can only minimally address the needs of rural development in the absence of these basic services. Government policy is still rudimentary after decades of civil strife. The ASTI method provides a useful framework, a tool for highlighting the issues assessed here for further intervention. However, it cannot overcome the lack of secondary information currently prevailing in DRC. The virtual absence of planning, research and development infrastructure and operating budget in banana and plantain does not negate the relevance of an ASTI analysis, but initial efforts should focus on how to identify priorities for strategic rebuilding of science, technology and innovation capacity. Literature Cited Akyeampong, E. 1999. Plantain production, marketing and consumption in West and Central Africa. Bananas and Food Security Symposium. Douala, Cameroon 10–14, November. p.353–359. Food and Agricultural Organization, 1998. Root and Tuber Crops, Plantains and Bananas in Developing Countries. Plant Production and Protection Paper. FAO, Rome. Huart, A. 2007. Développer une stratégie du secteur banane et banane plantain pour améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et les revenus agricoles en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). Communication en atelier sur les Stratégies de développement du secteur bananier en RDC. Kinshasa, DRC 11–12, June. Katungi, E., Smale, M. and Tushemereirwe, W. 2006. Management of banana plantations. p.50–59. In: W. Tushemereirwe, F. Bagamba, E. Katungi, E. Kikulwe, D. Karamura, S. Edmeads and M. Smale (eds.), A baseline Assessment of Banana Production and Management Practices in Uganda. NARO, Kampala. Kikulwe, E., Edmeades, S., Bagamba, F. and Smale, M. 2006. Characteristics of bananagrowing households and their farms. p.26–35. In: W. Tushemereirwe, F. Bagamba, E. Katungi, E. Kikulwe, D. Karamura, S. Edmeads and M. Smale (eds.), A baseline assessment of banana production and management practices in Uganda. NARO, Kampala. Ndungo, V., Bakelana, K., Eden-Green, S. and Blomme, G. 2004. An outbreak of banana xanthomonas wilt (Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Infomusa 13:43–44. Service National des Statistiques Agricoles. 1996. Annuaire de Statistiques Agricoles. Projet PNUD/FAO/ZAI/96/003. Ministère de l’Agriculture et du Développement Rural. SNSA, Kinshasa. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation. 2005. Cadre méthodologique: Analyser le Système Agricole de Science, Technologie et Innovation (ASTI) dans les pays ACP. CTA, Wageningen. Vangu, G., Mputu, R., Bonane, L., Lubanzadio, S. and Malamba, N. 2007. Enquête sur le Bunchy Top du Bananier dans la province du Bas Congo. Internal report INERA. INERA, Mvuazi. 824
Tables
Table 1. Ecological conditions and national agricultural statistics of DRC. Source: SSNS, 1996. Province Bas-Congo Kinshasa Bandundu Equateur Orientale North Kivu South Kivu Maniema Katanga Kasai-Oriental Kasai-Occidental Total
Total Annual Farm Farm land area Major cropping systems rainfall households population (km2) (mm) 53,920 Cereal, root crop mixed 1,200 324,524 1,985,235 9,965 Cereal, root crop mixed 1,400 42,705 313,424 295,568 Tree crops, root Root 1,500 711,449 912,969 crops 403,292 Forest based 1,800 489,204 2,935,225 503,239 Forest based, maize 1,700 1,050,185 4,935,870 mixed 59,483 Highland perennial 2,000 505,296 2,678,069 65,130 Highland perennial 2,200 424,684 2,378,230 132,250 Forest based, cereal 1,600 211,332 1,162,329 mixed 496,877 Root crop, cereal maize 1,100 524,069 2,725,155 mixed 170,302 Root crop, maize mixed 1,400 534,256 2,991,833 154,742 Root crop, maize mixed 1,500 557,578 3,010,925 2,344,855 5,375,282 29,029,264
Rural Total population population 2,201,790 1,201,790 4,838,645
2,701,000 3,992,658 5,128,400
4,726,210 5,078,462
4,974,957 5,484,300
3,148,083 2,722,601 1,169,593
3,381,400 2,839,000 1,231,150
2,939,758
4,199,654
3,976,688 4,544,786 3,246,452 3,978,495 35,290,112 42,455,800
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Table 2. Important Musa production areas in DRC. Source: SNSA, 1996. Estimated Cultivars Province Production grown (t) (genome) Bas-Congo 156,220 AAB, AAA Kinshasa
Area in Musa (ha)
Threatening pests
Fallow length problems
33,027
BBTV
Short bush fallow, savanna Short bush fallow, savanna Short bush fallow, savanna Forest fallow Forest fallow Permanent cultivation Permanent cultivation Forest fallow Short bush fallow, savanna Short bush fallow, savanna Short bush fallow, savanna
5,600
AAB, AAA
3,350
BBTV
Bandundu
101,025
AAB, AAA
28,457
BBTV
Equateur Orientale North Kivu
339,770 674,133 531,558
61,776 135,913 106,311
South Kivu
206,980
Maniema Katanga
122,244 37,752
AAB, AAA AAB, AAA AAA, EAH, ABB AAA, EAH, ABB AAB, AAA AAB, AAA
37,613 9,097
BBTV Xanthomonas wilt Xanthomonas wilt BBTV BBTV
Kasai Oriental KasaiOccidental Total
43,776
AAB, AAA
9,837
‐
48,542
AAB, AAA
11,159
‐
477,936
2,267,600
41,396
Table 3. Important Musa consumption, DRC.
Province Bas-Congo Kinshasa Bandundu Equateur Orientale North Kivu South Kivu Maniema Katanga Kasai-Oriental Kasai-Occidental 826
Importance of Musa for urban population Matadi Plantain, Cassava High Kinshasa Rice, Cassava, Medium Plantain Kikwit Cassava, Plantain Medium Mbandaka Plantain High Kisangani Cassava, Rice, High Plantain Goma Potatoes, Banana High Bukavu Banana, Potatoes High Kindu Rice, Plantain High Lubumbashi Maize, Rice Low Mbuji Mayi Maize Low Kananga Maize Low Major urban centers
Primary staple foods
Major supply routes for Musa – time and distance to urban centers 4-8 h/50-150 km 12-24 h/50-150 km 4-10 h/50-150 km 6-10 h/50-200 km 6-10 h/50-200 km 4-10 h/50-200 km 4-8 h/50-150 km 4-8 h/50-200 km 4-8 h/50-200 km 4-8 h/50-200 km 4-8 h/50-150 km
Table 4. Research, education, extension and private sector support for banana research and development for important banana and plantain producing provinces in DRC1. Province Bas-Congo
Kinshasa Bandundu Equateur Orientale North Kivu South Kivu Maniema Katanga KasaiOriental KasaiOccidental
Research No Musa Recent banana Farmers covered by stations/ scientists/Recent development Agricultural extension and NGOs research on Musa projects universities INERA11 CFC banana Low Mvuazi, Univ. project, Kongo, ISP Improved fallow Banza- Ngungu experiment UNIKIN, UPN 4 Low UB, INERA2 Low Kiyaka ISDR2 Very low Mbewo,Centre U.Gbado. UNIKIS, IFA2 Gatsby- Cultivar Low Yangambi collection UNIGO, UG 1 CIALCA Low UCB, ISDR 1 CIALCA Low UNIKI 1 Low UNILU 1 Low UM, UK 1 Low -
-
-
Very low
1
NGO = non-governmental organization; INERA = Institut National pour l'Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques; ISP = Institut Supérieur Pédagogique; CFC = Common Fund for Commodity; UNIKIN = Université de Kinshasa; UPN = Université Pédagogique Nationale; UB = Université de Bandundu; UNIKIS = Université de Kisangani; IFA = Institut Facultaire des sciences Agronomiques; UNIGO = Université de Goma; UGL = Université des Grands Lacs; UCB = Université Catholique de Bukavu; ISDR = Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural; UNIKI = Université de Kindu; UNILU = Université de Lubumbashi; UM = Université de Mbujimayi; UK = Université du Kasaï; CIALCA = Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa.
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