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Enhancing Value-Added Agriculture:
Online Training on Banana Product Development for the Caribbeans
Virtual, 12-15 May 2025.
As part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing agricultural value chains through South-South cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM CSSTC), in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Polytechnic ATI Padang, successfully organized a virtual international training on Smoked Banana and Banana Chips Production from 5 to 8 May 2025.
The training engaged participants from 14 Caribbean countries, responding to the increasing demand for practical knowledge on banana processing as a pathway to local enterprise development and export diversification. The program focused on equipping participants with applicable skills and techniques for transforming raw bananas into shelf-stable, market-ready products.
Through detailed technical sessions, participants learned the fundamentals of traditional and modern methods of smoked banana and banana chips. In addition to the production techniques, participants were guided through important considerations in food safety, hygienic packaging, and labeling for consumer markets. The training emphasized the business potential of these products, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) aiming to create high-value products from abundant local resources.
Hosted via Zoom, the sessions were complemented by interactive panel discussions that allowed participants to engage directly with instructors, raise questions, and share their unique experiences and challenges.
This program is a continuation of a broader training series led by Indonesian institutions for Caribbean nations, previously covering mango-based products. By sharing Indonesia’s experience in agri-processing innovation, the initiative aims to support inclusive development, empower local producers, and promote sustainable agro-industrial growth in fellow developing nations.
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