THE ROLE OF NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN BANANA (MUSA SPP.) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Abstract

A number of regional and national institutions have developed programs to generate and promote technologies to resolve problems in the banana (Musa spp.) industry. Some, such as the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) of Uganda, have banana research and development (R&D) programs that have become centers of excellence in the region and offer new opportunities for augmenting current efforts of regional programs. The current operational frameworks for addressing regional problems need to take advantage of these centers for enhanced effectiveness. These centers could champion processes where national institutions initiate R&D strategies to enhance ownership, as opposed to the current arrangements where regional organizations lead formulation of strategies, resulting in reduced national ownership and support. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) realizes this setback and has, through the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA), organized the national banana R&D programs in the region into a consortium to offer another option for biotechnological issues. This will also enable pooling expertise in different countries to address cross border issues under one umbrella. The consortium, the Banana Consortium for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa (BACCESA), has recently formulated a strategy and is in the process of mobilizing resources to implement it. This paper highlights the evolution of public research systems, centers of excellence and their roles, plus key elements of the BACCESA strategy.