Empowering farmers to fight Banana Bunchy Top Disease through knowledge sharing

Contributed by Moureen Awori and George Mahuku.

Introduction

Bananas (and plantain) are staple foods and an income source for millions of households in Uganda, with over 70% produced and consumed as either cooked or dessert. In Kasese district, banana production is a lifeline for many smallholder farmers. However, Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) poses a significant threat to their livelihoods, causing devastating yield losses and economic hardship and endangering the diversity of the varieties they grow, eventually leading to food insecurity.

“At least 90% of the banana plantations in the eight sub-counties of Bukonzo County West in Kasese district are affected by the virus,” noted Dr Julius Rukara, Kasese’s District Agricultural Officer (DAO).

Banana Bunchy Top Virus can result in annual production losses worth US$200 to 600 million in Africa and is classified as an A1 quarantine pathogen and one of the top 100 worst invasive alien species. As part of the joint effort to combat BBTD, IITA, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and Plant Health Initiative, through the Ukama Ustawi (UU) Learning Alliance Framework, facilitated a stakeholder learning visit to empower farmers from Bushenyi, Rubirizi and Bunyangabu districts, where the disease is not yet present to learn from their peers in Kasese district and acquire knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and manage BBTD.

Ukama Ustawi (UU) is a CGIAR-led initiative (IWMI, IITA, ILRI) aimed at supporting climate-resilient agriculture and livelihoods in 12 Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries: Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Learning Alliance (LA) is a vital component of the UU initiative, as it supports learning about diversified farming systems and innovation. It is a demand-led, collaborative knowledge-sharing network established in ESA between CGIAR, CCARDESA, and ASARECA.

The learning visit

From 3 to 4 October 2024, 71 stakeholders, including 41 smallholder farmers from Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Kasese, and Rubirizi districts, staff from IITA, ASARECA, Plant Health Initiative, MAAIF, NARO, Extension Agents, and local policymakers gathered in Kasese district for a comprehensive 2-day learning experience about the emerging BBTD caused by the invasive Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV). Field demonstrations on disease identification, sanitation, and control measures, farmer-to-farmer sharing of experiences and successes, expert presentations on BBTD biology, symptoms, and management, and interactive sessions on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies empowered farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills on BBTD symptoms and transmission, including how to recognize infected plants, the importance of early detection and removal of infected plants, disease prevention and management strategies and knowledge on clean planting materials. Farmers were also able to witness and appreciate the impact of BBTD through experience from farmers in Kasese.

Bwambale Anatosi, from Karambi Sub County, was the farmer who first saw BBTV on his 8-acre banana plantation in 2021. He reported to researchers from MAAIF, who took samples and confirmed the presence of BBTD on his farm. Before the disease, Anatosi supplied bananas to three schools and earned one million Uganda shillings per week. When the disease struck, his production levels were reduced, and he could not keep up with the business.

“I tried everything, clearing infected plants, replanting with new suckers, sanitizing farm equipment, and following management practices. Yet, the plants remained stunted,” Anatosi said, recounting the challenges of managing the disease before abandoning banana production and switching to cocoa farming. “Cocoa is only a cash crop, but with bananas, I used to get both money and food,” added Anatosi with frustration.

Key takeaways: BBTD symptoms and transmission

Plants infected by BBTV appear dwarfed and have a bunched appearance with yellow-edged leaves and dark green streaks on the petiole and underside of leaves. Plants infected at early stages do not produce fruit, while those infected at later stages may produce deformed fruits, but shoots that emerge subsequently do not produce fruit, leading to a 100% yield loss. The primary spread of BBTD is through the use of infected planting material. The disease can also be transmitted by the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa), widespread in Uganda’s banana-producing regions. Use of suckers from old fields is discouraged as they could potentially spread the disease. The use of certified planting material is significantly low due to insufficient production, poor distribution networks, and limited awareness of the benefits of clean planting materials, which exacerbates the virus spread within and between countries.

Disease prevention and management strategies

To prevent and manage Banana Bunchy Top Disease, farmers should adopt integrated measures. Effective prevention, therefore, entails a combination of different control strategies, including the use of disease-free/clean planting materials, removing infected plants, chopping them into small pieces and pouring a detergent solution on them to control aphids, discontinuing the process of sourcing planting material/suckers from infected fields, practicing good sanitation, controlling aphid vectors, and regularly monitoring the field to remove infected plants. This will lower the inoculum levels, thus minimizing the risk of BBTV spread. Management strategies include early detection and removal of infected plants to control aphids, creating awareness among stakeholders, and building their capacity for controlling the disease. Additionally, enforcing quarantine regulations and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches can help reduce the disease’s impact. Overall, regular monitoring and evaluation are crucial to ensure effective disease management.

Expert insight

IITA Plant Pathologist Dr George Mahuku stressed the importance of a regional approach to combating BBTV: “Diseases like BBTV do not respect borders. Our borders are porous, and people often carry planting material, inadvertently introducing the virus into new areas. People must be aware of measures they should adopt to minimize the risks of introducing and spreading the disease. We should work with our neighbors in DRC, where the disease has existed since the 1960s. Together, we can win the fight against this disease.” The suggestion of a regional approach to combat the disease was strongly supported by Blaise Amony, Program Officer for Partnerships and Capacity Development at the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), who noted that ASARECA was contributing to the cause through its work with the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and international partners, to ensure that farmers use clean planting materials thereby reducing the impact of the virus.

Dr Alex Barakye, Head of the Banana Research Program at NARO, said, “It is crucial for farmers to adopt effective management practices to control the spread of BBTV, as the virus can devastate banana production if left unchecked. Practices such as regular monitoring of banana plants, early detection of infected plants, proper disposal of infected material, and controlling the banana aphid (the virus vector) are vital. Implementing these measures helps maintain healthy crops and reduces the economic losses associated with BBTV outbreaks.”
It is worth noting that the local government extension has been instrumental in educating farmers on the importance of early detection and good management practices. District Agricultural Officer Rukara said, “The project has greatly helped in tracking the disease and raising awareness across the district. We have used various methods, including local radios and extension staff, to inform farmers in affected areas.”

Impact and future plans

The learning visit’s impact is already being felt, with visiting farmers reporting improved knowledge and confidence in managing BBTD. Plans include follow-up training and support to ensure sustained progress.
Barekye pledged to provide clean banana planting materials to establish a demonstration garden at the St. Joseph Kisolholho Roman Catholic Church farm in Kasese to combat Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) in the district. This initiative seeks to promote disease-free banana production and showcase best practices in BBTD management. The demonstration garden will serve as a model for local farmers, enabling them to adopt effective prevention and management strategies. Barekye emphasized NARO’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and ensuring food security through sustainable agricultural practices.

Partnership and support

The visit was supported in part by CGIAR Regional Integrative Initiative, Ukama Ustawi (UU), Plant Health Initiative (PHI), the United States Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agricultural Services (USDA-FAS), and the USAID Regional Mission in East Africa project “Combating BBTV in the East Africa region.”

Conclusion

The farmer learning visit on Banana Bunchy Top Disease is a testament to the power of partnerships and the Ukama Ustawi (UU) CGIAR-led initiatives. It empowered farmers with vital knowledge and skills to combat this devastating disease, sustain banana production, and improve livelihoods for farmers.

Partners: IITA (Lead), MAAIF, ASARECA, NARO and local government.

 

Links to the photo gallery

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iita-media-library/albums/72177720321921310

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iita-media-library/albums/72177720321921310/page2