IITA trains NARS staff on digital tools to increase efficiency in banana breeding

Banana breeding is a slow and time-consuming process, and it is currently taking almost a decade in Tanzania to develop new varieties due to the crop’s complex genetics, sterility, and long generation cycles. In efforts to improve banana breeding through research, there is a great need for research institutes to increase collaboration with the National Agricultural Research System in data collection and provide feedback to breeders that will facilitate and fast-track the release.

In recognizing the critical role of the NARS in supporting high-quality data in crop improvement, recently, IITA–CGIAR, in collaboration with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), trained the banana breeding staff and researchers on data collection using digital tools. The training was held in four TARI stations in Kagera, Mbeya, and Kilimanjaro regions.

The training objective was to increase efficient, standardized, and quality-controlled data generation across institutions. The training covered data management components, including trait harmonization and fieldbook data collection, uploading and accessing data on Musabase, and preliminary data analysis.

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