URN.The disease known as Banana Bunchy Top Virus affects the banana bunches by entering the plant and stopping it from forming bunches. Diseased plants rarely produce fruit and when they do, the fruit is stunted and twisted.
Farmers in Arua District are battling a new Banana disease outbreak. The disease has been reported in the villages of Pelele, Surusoni, Tinaku, Lio, and Andruvu all in Logiri sub-county.
The disease known as Banana Bunchy Top Virus affects the banana bunches by entering the plant and stopping it from forming bunches. Diseased plants rarely produce fruit and when they do, the fruit is stunted and twisted. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=1765694914&pi=t.aa~a.3933768198~i.3~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1658249868&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Farua-farmers-battling-new-banana-virus-outbreak-&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1658249868706&bpp=3&bdt=5287&idt=-M&shv=r20220718&mjsv=m202207140101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df673dcf29e716676-22fa0ff5cfcd00e5%3AT%3D1658146801%3ART%3D1658146801%3AS%3DALNI_MYMCHLIWk3Ke0xT8tP2Mkp0uYlm-Q&gpic=UID%3D00000789c2467025%3AT%3D1658249344%3ART%3D1658249344%3AS%3DALNI_MY1wp3-NQOlvPPnvS61C9Acl6YyJA&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0&nras=3&correlator=2034018394476&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1658249865&ga_hid=581269771&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=6&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=1564&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=21&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759842%2C44763506%2C44766559%2C31068472%2C44768688%2C31060048%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=3904962699614646&tmod=1617889652&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C715&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=kDn7vs0DwH&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=18
Swaleh Musisi, one of the affected farmers in Pelele Village, Chiaba Parish in Logiri sub-county, says the infected banana has short and yellowish fingers. He says they thought its due to the current drought and kept transplanting the suckers which has worsened the situation.
Emmanuel Anguyo, another farmer says the disease is wiping out banana plantations in his area. According to Anguyo, they have only been advised to get rid of the infected plantation as the only viable solution.
David Atiku, the Assistant Agricultural Officer Logiri sub county notes that the disease was first reported in the area in September last year and is believed to have spread from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He however blamed the resurgence on farmers who have continued to carry out transplanting of the infected plants to other fields. However, he has advised farmers to use clean planting materials and avoid transplanting infected materials to new gardens.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=632730127&pi=t.aa~a.3933768198~i.27~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1658249868&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Farua-farmers-battling-new-banana-virus-outbreak-&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1658249868706&bpp=3&bdt=5286&idt=3&shv=r20220718&mjsv=m202207140101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df673dcf29e716676-22fa0ff5cfcd00e5%3AT%3D1658146801%3ART%3D1658146801%3AS%3DALNI_MYMCHLIWk3Ke0xT8tP2Mkp0uYlm-Q&gpic=UID%3D00000789c2467025%3AT%3D1658249344%3ART%3D1658249344%3AS%3DALNI_MY1wp3-NQOlvPPnvS61C9Acl6YyJA&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345&nras=4&correlator=2034018394476&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1658249865&ga_hid=581269771&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=6&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=2749&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=21&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759842%2C44763506%2C44766559%2C31068472%2C44768688%2C31060048%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=3904962699614646&tmod=1617889652&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C715&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=5&fsb=1&xpc=ZgnO0U0HMA&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=22
Nelson Adile, the acting Agricultural Officer of Arua District confirms the disease outbreak. He says the disease is transmitted by transporting banana suckers, bananas, and other products from banana plantations.
According to Adile, an infected plant among others has dark green streaks on the underside of the leaves, and severe stunting with short and narrow leaves.
According to the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), cases of the disease have also been reported in Mpondwe, Kasese district.
