Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Lazare Essimi Menyi has expressed strong satisfaction with the level of work realized at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD Ekona for the mass production of Plantain planting material.

Essimi made the remark last weekend, during a one day official visit for an on -the –spot assessment of progress made so far on a plantain plantlet project at IRAD Ekona that kicked off April last year.

“We are satisfied with what has been done so far because we are in the hurry to start producing these plantain plantlets. We gave some money to the institution and now I was able to notice by my self what has been done. I want to congratulate the whole team for the work done so far.”

During the visit, the Minister took a guided tour to the area where the plantain plantlets are being nursed and sent out for distribution to farmers. The head of the project told the minister that the environment is now very conducive for them to work; even in the rainy season with little or no hitches.

In the presence of the Secretary General at the South West Governor’s Office, Clement Fon Ndikum, the Minister and his entourage were taken to the laboratory where the technicians were available to demonstrate how the plantain plantlets are cultured in the laboratory before taken to the screen house for acclimatization.

After going through the various stages, Essimi said he was very impressed with what has been happening adding that the results obtained are clear signs of progress that the estimated number of plantain plantlets to go out to farmers will be achieved in the nearest future.

He then told the research staff that his ministry has other projects in the pipeline to bring to the centre – such as the cassava project that has already received funding from the World Bank and fruits project to be introduced soon.

He said his vision is to see plantain produce by each farmer especially in cooperatives to be used to produce other products like flour and chips.