Asher Wilson Okurut, a banana production trainer from National Agricultural Research Organisation Laboratories (NARO), facilitated the training on banana-growing at the seventh edition of the Harvest Money expo at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds that started today, on Friday February 10 and ends on Sunday February 12, 2023.
During the training, Okurut highlighted some of the challenges banana farmers face, including the bacterial wilt disease thatcauses 100% yield loss in bananas. It easily spreads through farm tools, including gumboots, tyres, suckers or seedlings.
Asher Wilson Okurut, a banana production trainer from National Agricultural Research Organisation Laboratories (NARO), facilitated the training on banana-growing. All photos by Shamim SaadExpo-goers learning about banana-growing
Symptoms of banana bacterial wilt diseases
Male part wilts starting from the tip, upwards
Banana fingers are always discolored
Ripens before maturing
Leaves wilt like have been exposed to heat
When you cut the diseased plant, stem’s sup turns into some pus like substance
The ABC Strategy of managing banana bacterial Wilt disease
Avoid transferring suckers
Break off the male part (mpumumpu)
Cut and chop all affected plants for the bacterial to die within three to nine months.
