From introduction to impact: Two decades of banana genebank dissemination and adoption in Tanzania and Uganda

Since 1997, 25 banana accessions—including FHIA hybrids and other promising cultivars—were introduced to Tanzania and Uganda through the International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre, in collaboration with national research institutions. Over two decades, dissemination has combined on-station trials, farmer nurseries, and informal seed systems. A long-term impact assessment with 1,315 farmers across six districts revealed highly localized adoption patterns (planting, cultivation, sale and consumption) shaped by agronomic performance, market demand, and cultural preferences. These findings show that the introduced high-potential, disease-resistant varieties improved overall yield and reduced disease-related losses.