As part of a multi-crop priority assessment exercise coordinated by the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB), the impact of five different research investments for bananas and plantains has been estimated.
We are delighted to announce the launch of a trilingual website that provides a knowledge toolkit introducing the methods and results of the priority assessment.
Photo: C.Staver/Bioversity International
Furthermore, we invite stakeholders to take a survey to give feedback on the parameter estimates used to help improve the results to help allocate research funds in areas where they generate the most impact for smallholder farmers.
Research resources are scarce and making research portfolio decisions is complex and challenging. As part of a multi-crop priority assessment exercise coordinated by RTB, the impact of different research investments for bananas and plantains in terms of economic benefits, poverty reduction and number of beneficiaries has been estimated to provide a basis for the strategy prioritizing of RTB research areas.
To elicit the key constraints that small-scale banana producers face, a comprehensive global online survey with more than 500 respondents from 54 countries and an expert workshop with 34 banana scientists were conducted in 2013. The expected economic benefits and poverty reduction effects of the identified key research investments were then calculated using an Economic Surplus Model and subsequent Cost-Benefit Analysis. The results are very encouraging and show that research benefits can run into billions of dollars, up to 31 million people can benefit and more than 3 million people can be lifted out of poverty.
Photo: P.Lepoint/Bioversity International
To close the stakeholder consultation loop, we are now delighted to announce the launch of the website RTB Strategic Assessment of Banana Research Priorities (www.rtb-bananaresearchpriorities.org) that introduces the methods and results of the Strategic Assessment of Banana Research Priorities. The knowledge toolkit contains short explanatory texts and videos that guide the audience step-by-step through the different stages of the banana priority assessment.
Furthermore, we invite stakeholders to participate in a global online feedback survey. This will give the global banana community a chance to comment on the results and process of the RTB banana priority assessment and provide input to parameter estimates as well as process and methodology for any subsequent similar efforts.
The survey will only take 15-20 minutes to complete and will be available in English, Spanish and French on Monday, 6th February 2017. Individual email invitations to the survey will be sent to participants of the global banana expert survey conducted in 2013. In addition, an open link to access the survey will be provided on the site’s Survey page as well as the RTB, Bioversity International, and ProMusa websites and the websites of the regional banana networks.
