The 4th session of the Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and the 5 session Intergovernmental group on Tropical Fruits was held at FAO, Rome from 9 – 10 December 2009. TFNet Board members Yacob Ahmad, Syrian member Mr. Mauwya A. Jaber, Nigerian member Dr. Ademola A. Odowu, Dr. Hannah Janieke and Dr. Errol Hewett were invited to attend the sessions as observers.TFNet CEO, Yacob Ahmad presented a paper related to tropical fruit value chain entitled ‘Tropical fruits in Asia with special reference to mango and pineapple’. He also presented the TFNet progress report and a concept paper regarding a workshop to address the problem of low produce prices due to excess fruit production and seasonality, for approval from the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). Dr. Hannah Jaenicke presented a paper on ‘Potential of minor / indigenous tropical fruits for nutrition and economic benefits of the farming communities’, while Dr. Errol Hewett presented on ‘Value chains for tropical and subtropical fruits – reducing losses, improving profitability, reducing poverty, assisting food security through enhanced supply chain management’. Dr. Odowu from Nigeria presented a country proposal entitled ‘Innovating plantain production and marketing for the off-season high price niche: An entry point to improving plantain yields and profitability for small holders in West Africa.
In the meeting, TFNet was requested to formulate and propose capacity building programs that can be implemented for players along the value chain of tropical fruits. The proposals will be submitted to the FAO.
TFNet board members at the IGG meeting;
From left: Dr. Ademola Adeseye Odowu (NiHort, Nigeria), Mr. Mauwya A. Jabar (Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Syria), Yacob Ahmad (TFNet), Dr. Hannah Jaenicke (Crops for the Future, Sri Lanka), Prof. Dr. Errol Hewett (Massey University, New Zealand)