Experts in Tanzania are working hard to stop a banana disease threatening one of the leading food staples in the country. Known as Fusarium wilt TR4 and first detected in 2013, the disease is feared to severely impact on banana production if left unchecked. Banana production practices in the two countries would also be investigated “to identify practical measures to reduce risks.
Besides seeking to reduce the risks, the study aims to mitigate potential damage that can be caused on small farms. The fact that the fungus can survive in the infested fields for decades and difficulty to eradicate, facilitated its spread across borders.
The research has been launched under with the support of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
The crop is grown on around 2.5 million ha in the region, making up 50 percent of total agricultural production in some countries. Statistics from the Australian research agency show that the entire eastern and central African region has an annual banana production valued at $4.3 billion.
Source: thecitizen.co.tz