Head of Plant Biotechnology Research Office Coordinator with the Center, Asmare Dagnaw told journalists that the center used the technology on banana, garlic, orange, lemon and mandarin varieties.

He said the center is implementing the technology by realizing the economic importance of banana plant to farmers as well as to address shortage of banana seedlings in the country.

The coordinator said the conventional methods of propagation could produce only ten seedling of banana, however, the tissue culture technology multiplies thousands of banana seedlings in less than six months period.

He said due to shortage of banana seedlings the development of banana plantation in the country is very minimal even in areas that are conducive for banana development.

The coordinator said banana is widely developed in southern and western parts of Ethiopia and is now expanding to northern and eastern parts of the country.

Besides, the three new banana varieties found through the research have been proved to be high yield varieties, he said.

The center is undertaking the trial research on three banana varieties on 24 model farmers’ plots in Eastern Arisi, Eastern Shoa, he said.

A ‘tissue culture’ is a technology that would be used to multiply plant species from mother plants.

R: 8:45-9:05 A.M

E: 10:17-10:30

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