By Robert Ariaka
Agriculture ministry officials have urged farmers in West Nile to follow guidelines which will curb the spread of the banana bunchy top disease, which has already affected Arua, Nebbi, Zombo and Maracha districts.
The disease had been in DR Congo for over 40 years, but was detected in Arua in 2020.
It is suspected to have been spread to Uganda through sharing of planting materials. David Kutunga, the principal agriculture inspector crop protection department at the ministry, said farmers have not been following guidelines.
“We advise farmers not to transplant affected stems,’’ he said last week on Friday, adding that experts from the ministry and local government have been moving across villages to educate them on the management of the disease.
Kutunga added: “We do not want the disease to spread from West Nile to other regions.”
In the West Nile, the disease was detected in 2020 in Arua but later spread to Nebbi, Zombo and Maracha.
Signs of disease
The disease stagnates the growth of bananas, making them to fold leaves into a broom shape.
“The affected bananas hardly bear fruit, but those that try to, have small fingers,” Kutunga explained.
He advised farmers to uproot affected plants and those surrounding them, to prevent further spread.
“The leaves should be cut and a solution of soap spread on them to kill the aphids.”
Alfred Okuonzi, the Arua district chairperson, said Uganda officials need to discuss the matter with their counterparts in DR Congo for solutions.
He asked for the deployment of more agriculture ministry officials to prevent further spread of the disease.
What farmers say
Musisi Swali, a farmer in Pelele village, Chiaba parish in Logiri sub-county, said the disease has been existing, but they were not aware of it, but after the sensitisation, they were able to identify and destroy the affected plants. He said the other disease in their region is the banana bacterial wilt.
Emmanuel Anguyo, a banana farmer in Pelele village, said he destroyed some of the plants in his plantation.
“I used to cut the bananas that would turn yellow to avoid the spread of the disease to other plants. Cases of stunted growth mostly happen during the dry season from January to March. The bananas do not grow well,” he explained.
Anguyo advised that even the tools used to cut the plants must be disinfected.
