OBED
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries have warned farmers in Kigezi Subregion against transplanting banana tubers due to the outbreak of Banana Bunchy top disease in the country.
The call has been sounded by a team from ministry of Agriculture Animal industry and fisheries led by Musiimenta Herbert, principal agriculture inspector at Kabale district local government headquarters while on a delimiting survey and detect aimed at interacting with farmers in Kigezi Sub region and assessment whether the disease is already in area and find possible solutions to combat it.
Musiimenta said that the disease is now prevalent in Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo and in Uganda is currently reported in Kasese, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kabarole, Bundibugyo, Kisoro and in West Nile districts of Nebbi, Zombo, Arua, Maracha and Koboko which puts the attention that Kabale district and the entire districts in Kigezi Sub region is at a high risk of being affected by the disease.
Musiimenta also said that the disease spreads very fast, it makes banana plants stunted, leaves clump together and get yellowish at edge, creates dark-green streaks on petiole and underside of leaves, plants do not produce bunches. He added that the disease can affect the collapse of production within 3 to 5 years and that for people who primarily depend on bananas, now this disease possesses a huge risk on food security and household income.
He said that the disease is spread by aphids and is manageable if farmers embark at enhancing sanitation of gardens, planting safe plants and working as a community.
He advised farmers in the region to work hand in hand with agriculture officers in their respective districts to know if the banana plants are safe before planting.
Banana Bunchy top disease was reported and spotted along the border between Uganda and Congo from Arua to Kasese district in 2020.
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