The objectives of the proposed study visit are to:

• Exchange information on plantain production technologies with Dominican Republic/Latin American scientists, extension personnel, and farmers;
• Study the different plantain production systems operating in the Caribbean/Latin American region and to compare and contrast them with the situation in West and Central Africa;
• Observe first hand and obtain agronomic information on plantain cultivars used in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica;
• Establish links with plantain researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean through the framework of the INIBAP-coordinated banana research network for Latin America and the Caribbean, MUSALAC.

Expected results

It is expected that plantain production and productivity in West and Central Africa will be improved as the information that the team will acquire is passed on to members of MUSACO (during training courses, annual network meeting etc.) for implementation in the field. Through the active pursuit of the following activities:

• As appropriate, technologies will either be directly adopted, or they will be evaluated and modified as necessary. Others technologies from Latin America and the Caribbean will form the basis of research leading to the development of new innovations.
• Completely new production systems encountered in Latin America and the Caribbean with relevance to West and Central Africa will be tested and eventually proposed to farmers.
• High yielding local cultivars and hybrids will be imported via the INIBAP Germplasm Collection for evaluation and eventual cultivation in West and Central Africa.
• Production information will be regularly exchanged via the formal links established with Latin American and Caribbean scientists within the framework of MUSACO and MUSALAC.