In the implementation of WAAPP / PPAAO, Cote d'Ivoire is hosting the National Centre of Specialization on plantain (banana plantain-NCoS), which is coordinated by the National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA).

Since 2011, national structures such as the CNRA, National Universities, National Agency for Rural Development Support (ANADER) and the Institute of Tropical Technology (I2T) work closely together to provide innovative solutions to solve problems facing Plantain industry.

The shortage of plantain on the market from April to September is one of the major problems that has been successfully solved by the NCOS-Plantain.

Through participatory research conducted by the CNRA researchers in collaboration with the producers of the Association for the Development of Intensives Food Crops (ADCVI) of Tiassalé, the banana production in off-season was a successful experience.

The researches conducted on two successive years led to the generation of technical procedures relating to plantain pest control methods based on frequency of watering and fertilization mode for better productivity. The first tests were carried out on an area of 3 ha. Participatory research on plantain production has allowed producers to acquire the methodology of conducting banana production in off season. Moreover, improved varieties (PITA and FUSHIA) and local varieties (Corne, Orishelée ...) were tested. One of the aspects considered by the research was to study the yielding of plantain production technology in off-season.

With a yield of 33T / ha achieved, producers of ADVCI recorded at the end of the first tests a net profit of more than 4 million CFA (USD 8,000) on sales made on bunch of banana during shortage period (July-August).

After this first successful experiment, researchers at CNRA, always in collaboration with the producers of ADCVI have made multi-location trials in other agro-ecological zones to confirm the encouraging results obtained at Tiassalé and to establish a reliable technical and economic datasheets. Very satisfied, producers of ADVCI, expressed their gratitude to FIRCA, the national coordination Unit of WAAPP / PPAAO and CNRA to have transferred the plantain production technology in off-season in their community. They are willing to continue this experience that has changed their farming techniques and their daily lives.