Envisaged laboratory to boost banana crop in Kagera

DODOMA: The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has embarked on the construction of a tissue culture laboratory for banana seedlings in Maruku, Kagera region.

This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to boost the banana industry and attract investment in banana processing.

Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, announced the development in Parliament yesterday while responding to a question from Buhingwe MP (CCM) Felix Kavejuru who had inquired about the government’s strategies for drawing investors to the banana processing sector.

In his response, Minister Bashe said that the ministry is implementing various strategies to develop the banana crop in the country so that the farmers can make more profits so that they attract investors for value addition as well.

He listed these strategies as research and production of quality seedlings, promoting commercial banana production, encouraging the establishment of value-adding industries, and building strategic selling points and markets in border areas.

To support these efforts and ensure that new industries have a steady supply of raw materials, TARI is starting the construction of the tissue culture laboratory.

This lab will focus on producing quality banana seedlings, which will be crucial for meeting the demands of both local and international markets.

Minister Bashe also noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC), is actively seeking strategic investors from both domestic and international sources.

“This initiative will ensure a consistent supply of quality seedlings to farmers and help attract investment in the banana processing sector,” Bashe emphasized.

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The establishment of the tissue culture laboratory represents a significant step towards improving the banana industry’s infrastructure and expanding opportunities for value addition.