A new, disease is on the prowl, Kari warns
Albert Waweru Miare tends to his bananas at his farm in Kasarani on February 19, 2014. Farmers in banana growing regions have been asked to be wary of a destructive disease that has been detected in other parts of the continent. Photo/ JEFF ANGOTE/FILE
What you need to know:
- The warning follows a recent outbreak of a disease known as Panama.
- Banana is mainly grown in Kisii, Murang’a, Meru and Taita Taveta, among other regions.
Farmers in banana growing regions have been asked to be wary of a destructive disease that has been detected in other parts of the continent.
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) officials yesterday said even though the disease known as Fusarium Wilt (Tropical Race 4) has not been detected in the country, farmers need to be vigilant to ensure it doesn’t affect their produce.
Dr Lusike Wasilwa, Kari’s assistant director for Horticulture and Industrial Crops said farmers should report any abnormal growth on their produce for action.
“They can take samples to the over 90 plant clinics in central, eastern and western Kenya. These clinics have experienced agriculture extension workers with extensive training on the disease,” she said.
The warning follows a recent outbreak of a disease known as Panama. This is a fungus strain which, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has been detected in parts of the continent including Mozambique.
Banana is mainly grown in Kisii, Murang’a, Meru and Taita Taveta, among other regions.
According to FAO, once present, the disease cannot be controlled by common chemicals.
“The social consequences of Fusarium Wilt can be severe. Bananas are an important source of food, income, employment and government revenues in many tropical countries,” the UN organisation says.
Friday, Dr Wasilwa warned farmers against sourcing banana suckers from their neighbours. She said Kari had introduced more than 165 banana genotypes that were resistant to pests.
She said together with officials from Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services, they will increase surveillance along border points to stop introduction of bananas from neighbouring countries.
“The new Tropical Race 4 disease reported by FAO has not been observed in Kenya, but the one we have detected is the Fusarium Race 1, which has already affected the cultivation of bananas such as Sukari Ndizi, Gross Michele and Mbogo Mbogo (Kahinja),” she said.
Fusarium Wilt is a lethal fungal disease caused by a soil-borne fungus. The fungus enters the plant through the roots and colonises the xylem vessels, blocking the flow of water and nutrients.
