From 18thto 23thJune 2018, Dr. Dharani, an expert in agricultural data management from International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), visited CATAS for conducting a survey on the development of China’s banana industry. For this a workshop was held with over 30 participants either engaged in banana and banana-related researches or leaders from CATAS Division of International Cooperation, Haikou Experimental Station, Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology Research Institute, Environment and Plant Protection Research Institute, Scientific and Technical Information Research Institute and other organizations of CATAS.
An enthusiastic discussion in the workshop
In the workshop, Dr. Dharani gave a presentation on the work and achievements of the research group in agriculture data in CIAT, discussed with experts from CATAS on the treatment of agricultural data on banana production technology, efficiency, climate and soil change, proceeded by a brief introduction to Chinese banana industry made by Li Jingyang, an associate research professor and a post expert in the national banana industrial technology system. A full discussion then was made among all participants on possible ways of utilization of agricultural data to serve better the banana industry and refinements of various research project design, which is believed to lay good foundation for the future works between the two sides.
During the visit, Dr. Dharani had in-depth discussions on key technologies barriers of banana industry development with scientists in such fields as banana seedling propagation, disease control, banana cultivation and policy support in Haikou Experimental Station, Banana Tissue Culture Center of CATAS,Hainan Runtian Agricultural Co., Ltd., Hainan University and other organizations. Dr. Dharani and those scientists also discussed cooperation plans between the two sides.
