Plantain and Banana Research at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), established in Ibadan, Nigeria, as an international institute for agricultural research and training, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1992.It became the first African link in a worldwide network of international agricultural research centers funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of more than 40 public and private donors, including government agencies, international organizations, and private foundations.IITA's mission is "to improve the nutritional status and well-being of low-income people in the humid and subhumid zones of sub-Saharan Africa by carrying out research and related activities for increasing agricultural production in a sustainable manner, in cooperation with national and international systems and institutions."IITA conducts research and training activities on a 1000-ha farm at Ibadan and at stations in sub-Saharan Africa.Its activities are linked with regional and national programs throughout Africa.To enhance the practical relevance