Farmers schooled on banana, plantain suckers production

A training session organised by the Inistitute of Agricultural Research for Development took place in the South West recently.

A two day workshop organized by the Inistitute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Barombi-Kang in Kumba brought together representatives of farmers groups from Kossala Kumba, Barombi-Kang, Ekiliwindi, Kwakwa,-Big Nganjo, Konye and Nkongsamba. It was aimed at training the farmers on banana and plantain sucker production. The training session took place at the conference hall of IRAD Barombi -Kang, from April 5 to 6, 2016.

Atemnkeng Maureen Forji, Chief of Station for IRAD Barombi-Kang Kumba, underscored the importance of bananas and plantains in the South West Region and the country as a whole, stating that it serves as a source of income and food to humanity. Atemnkeng Maureen noted that it is in this light that researchers of IRAD under C2D Agro-forestry Project, decided to organized this training workshop, to enable farmers to produce banana and plantain suckers of good quality and also in great quantity.

The Chief of Station for IRAD, encouraged the participants to take the training seriously and participate actively such that they can be trainers in their respective farmer groups when they return. Adding that similar training workshops will be organize for other crops to equip farmers with good farming techniques to accompany these improved seed and planting materials.

The participants at the end of the workshop appreciated the effort of IRAD, to organized such a workshop which has come along way to educate them on how to manage their plantations they all pledged to take home the idea to their fellow farmers.