Rwandans urged to embrace maize as disease threatens banana output

Maize could soon replace bananas as the staple food for millions of Rwandans, agronomists have said. Experts who talked to The New Times yesterday said communities will have to adapt to new and varied menus as the banana crop struggles to survive Xanthomonas wilt commonly known as Kirabiranya. Banana Xanthomonas wilt disease that causes 100% yield loss. It has spread to all banana growing regions in Rwanda and is threatening banana production countrywide. “Farmers should consider maize as an option. In Rwamagana District alone, over 70 hectares of banana plantation are affected,” Innocent Ukizuru, Rwamgana District agriculture officer, said. Maize growing has been consistently successful, since the introduction of the land consolidation programme. A deadly banana disease has, however, attacked plantations in various districts, prompting local leaders to mobilise the communities to fight it, with little success. Ukizuru said Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) intervened to uproot the infected banana trees in sectors across the province. “We urged citizens to uproot the affected banana plants and provide timely information about new infections,” Ukizuru said. Banana Xanthomonas wilt is characterised by yellowing and wilting of banana leaves, shriveling of male buds, premature ripening and internal yellowing of fruits. The disease spread to 23 districts in the country before it was declared a national disaster. Residents are, however, determined to fight the disease. “The sad reality is that most plantations may not survive. But I do not imagine eating posho. We are praying to God to intervene because the disease has no standard drug,” said Protais Gasana, a banana grower in Ngoma District. Bananas are the world’s fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat, and maize.

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Rwandans urged to embrace maize as disease threatens banana output