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In 2014, planters in Burkina Faso had little experience of growing plantain.

"Plantain cultivation in Burkina Faso was rare at the time," recalls Paul Ilboudo, a seasoned research technician with the Western Regional Directorate of theBurkina Faso Institute for the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA).

Boosted by the new regional research collaboration initiative facilitated by the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP), through the National Specialization Centers (CNS), INERA has introduced three improved plantain varieties (PITA 3, FHIA 21, and Big Ebanga) from Côte d'Ivoire's CNS-Plantain.

Mrs. Kassongo Sylvie, a farmer in her late forties, was the first grower to experiment on her farm with the three varieties first introduced in 2014.

Five years later, she has expanded her plantation from the fifty or so plants per variety tested to two hectares, and is now generating substantial income from sales. She has also seen a substantial improvement in her livelihood. The returns on her investment are so encouraging that she plans to expand her plantation if she obtains credit, greater access to land and a reliable irrigation system.

"There are many other growers across Burkina Faso who have turned to plantain production following my successful experience," says Ms. Kassongo. In fact, Ms Kassongo has provided other growers from various parts of the country with about 3 ha of planting material of all varieties.

"There's a high demand for the 3 varieties, which are all equally successful. What's lacking is land and the financial means to expand our activities," she continues.

As in many other West African countries, banks and microcredit financial institutions are reluctant to grant attractive loans and financing to small-scale farmers and producers in general.

"It's so difficult to get loans from banks. They often say that our products are perishable and, in some cases, we can't provide the required guarantees," laments Ms. Kassongo.

Growing interest

Over the last few decades, research has developed disease-resistant, high-yielding hybrid plantain varieties. All that remains is to scale up these technologies.

The adoption of new plantain varieties in Burkina Faso is real, according to INERA.

"We see farmers travelling 600 kilometers to get the new hybrid varieties. There is enthusiasm and interest, thanks to the positive results obtained," explains Mr. Ilboudo.

Similar agro-ecological zones

Burkina Faso lies to the north of Côte d'Ivoire. Although most of the country is located in the Sahelian zone, with the apparent impacts of desertification and climate change, research has enabled plantain to be grown even in the off-season.

"The varieties have improved agronomic characteristics. With an excellent irrigation and plant management system, it is possible to grow plantain in Burkina Faso, including in the off-season," explains Ilboudo.

"If everyone pulls together, it's possible that Burkina Faso could produce enough plantains to significantly reduce imports, or even reach thresholds where export would become feasible," argues Ilboudou.

Plantains are an important source of carbohydrates for millions of people in West and Central Africa.

Between 2012 and 2016, new plantain cultivars were multiplied and distributed to farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo as part of the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (PPAAO), coordinated by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF).

According to a recently published scientific paper, the dissemination and adoption of these hybrid plantain varieties will improve the sustainable intensification of plantain-based farming systems in the humid plains of West and Central Africa.