A new banana disease has been reported in a few banana plantations in the West Nile. It’s it called Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV).
This information was availed by the head of the National Banana Programme, Dr Priver Namanya while addressing a group of agricultural and environmental women scientists who paid a visit to Kawanda under the leadership of the Uganda Bio Technology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC).
The national co-ordinator of UBBC, Arthur Makara, said the visit aimed at creating a network for women scientists, as well as reinforcing them.
The visiting group included women scientist groups like the Network of Uganda Women in Agricultural Research and Development and the Association of Uganda Professional Women in Agriculture and Environment (AUPWAE).
While addressing them, Dr Namanya noted that the Banana Bunchy Top Virus attacks the banana leaves, thereby leaving their leaves stunted and yellowing.
Namanya said they had sent a team on the ground to find out more about the disease, including the severity and the magnitude of this new banana virus.
“Removing the affected banana plants at early detection is the best way of managing the BBTV so far,” he said.
