Dr Lusike Wasilwa, the director of crop systems at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) in Nairobi says luckily, the new strain (TR4) of panama disease that is obliterating bananas elsewhere, has not been observed in Kenya.
The only strains confirmed in Kenya are the old Races 1 and Race 2, which are largely manageable. The Race 1 is endemic in Kenya as it is in most parts.
Dr Lusike says although the more virulent TR4 strain has not reached Kenya, farmers must take early precaution.
Kalro has been holding seminars to sensitise farmers on how to prevent the spread of diseases in bananas.
Dr Lusike says the planting material (suckers, rhizomes) remain the most important methods of long distance dispersals.
A 2008 report by Kalro researcher Dr Margaret Onyango (deceased in 2015) recommends plant quarantine such as stopping the movement of planting materials from affected regions.
It also recommends cultural control, that is, have fields clean of leaves and other plant debris; practise crop rotation and disinfect all farm equipment between banana stools.
Kalro says the Cavendish variety in Kenya is still being affected by the race one and 2 strains of the panama disease.
“Incidences of Fusarium wilt occur at a higher frequency in the Central region of Kenya, for instance, Murang’a, Nyeri and Kiambu particularly on the Cavendish genotypes,” says Dr Ruth Amata, a researcher at the Kabete station.
“In Meru South, this disease is a constraint on Cavendish types especially Apple banana varieties,” says Easton Njeru, a Karlo researcher based in Embu.
So is the dangerous TR4 strain coming to Kenya soon? The answer depends on whom you ask.
Fazil Dusunceli, an agricultural officer with the FAO, says TR4 could spread across the world only if producers aren’t vigilant.
He feels that today’s technology, including the use of tissue culture, could save the Cavendish banana, which is the world’s most important export variety, and the one Kenyan farmers are likely to make most money from.
Another report on US media calls it media hype. “The western press is so enamoured with the ‘Bananageddon, Apocalypse’ scenarios because it sells, both for the media as well as the researchers who are looking for money for their GMO research,” Dr Agustin B. Molina, Jr., told Modern Farmer, a quarterly American magazine devoted to agriculture and food.
Still, Kenya is not taking chances.
Kalro strongly advises farmers to verify the source of their planting material, and to preferably use tissue culture plants.
She says farmers suspicious of their diseased bananas can take samples to more than 90 plant clinics located in some parts of the county with concentrations in Central, Eastern and Western Kenya.
Source: the-star.co.ke
