MAAIF PLACES QUARANTINE ON MOVEMENT OF BANANA PLANTING MATERIALS FROM WEST NILE

The inspection team making an obervation on one of the samples of an affected banana plant

By Godwin Abedican

Arua
In 2020, West Nile reported the outbreak of a strange disease that affects banana plantations identified as the Banana Bunch Top Virus (BBTV) disease said to have originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is bordered by many West Nile districts.

The symptoms of the Banana Bunch Top Viral (BBTV) disease include, stunted growth of banana plants, bunched tops of the plant, failure to flower, inability to produce bunches or very small bunches are produced and also presents narrow erect leaves with visible streaks other than branching or spreading leaves
With the rate of its spread, the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has therefore taken a stand by issuing a quarantine order on banana plating material from DRC into Uganda and from West Nile region to other parts of the country.

Kutunga David Rukaijakare, the Principal Agricultural Inspector crop
protection department speaking during an interview

This comes as a result of the escalating spread of the banana Bunch Top viral BBTV disease which is said to have originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking during a surveillance visit in Pajulu village, Ozoo parish, Logiri sub-county, Arua district on Thursday July 11,2024, Kutunga David Rukaijakare, the Principal Agricultural Inspector crop protection department MAAIF says this move is in a view to save other parts of the country

“Our borders are porous. Now that we have our inspectors at the borders, we have put stringent measures since the disease spreads through planting materials. We want to ensure that vehicles or people crossing into Uganda from DRC do not come with planting materials. All planting materials from the DRC if they are bananas, they are restricted from coming to Uganda. We are also looking at how planting materials can no longer be moved from the region of West Nile to other regions that are not yet affected. If we restrict the movement planting materials, then we will be restricting further spread or this problem reaching our banana production hubs of Uganda,” he explained.

According to Adile Nelson, the District Agricultural Officer Arua, all stakeholders need to join in the fight against the spread of the disease, “In areas where the disease has not yet reached, we still advice farmers to get sources that are very clean and not infected. Unfortunately the West Nile region is bordering the DRC where we have porous borders. Much as the challenge is visible, we still believe that, through engagement of stakeholders including the political, technical, religious leaders and the community, we have to take an upper lead in ensuring that this disease is under control,” Adile appealed.

Piwa Joyce, the District Agricultural Officer Nebbi district in her view desires more stringent measures to be put in place given the porous nature of the borders between West Nile and the DRC. “When they come up with measures to control the spread of diseases, to me that is extremely good. First of all, why should we allow infected material to be transported here and there? If there was a way we could even introduce things like movement permits similar to what is done to animals. If this can be enforced or made as a bylaw or ordinance, it can really help us to control the spread of this disease,” Piwa recommended.

The banana bunch top viral BBTV disease was first noticed in West Nile in 2020 with its subsequent confirmation first in Arua district before spreading to other districts.

A country wide survey in districts bordering DRC has established that the disease is already spread in the districts of Arua, Zombo, Nebbi, Maracha and of recent Kasese district, all bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.