The disease affects the colour of the banana fingers and bunches from green to brown or black, according to one of the affected farmers Nestori Aturinda. He says that the disease eventually results in premature ripening and shrinking of the banana’s, yet even when cooked, they remain hard and inedible.
A strange disease has attacked banana’s
in Rwampara district sending farmers in panic.
The disease affects the colour of
the banana fingers and bunches from green to brown or black, according to one
of the affected farmers Nestori Aturinda. He says that the disease eventually results
in premature ripening and shrinking of the banana’s, yet even when cooked, they
remain hard and inedible.
//Cue in; “hati oburweire obu…
Cue out…tukushabira obuyambi
aho.”//
Kigaaga Parish Chairperson Francis
Turyaheebwa says that the kind of symptoms in the new disease are different
from the usual Banana bacterial wilt and enset bacterial wilt, also known as false banana.
He says that the outbreak has
already affected their incomes as more and more banana’s, a major source of
income for the community, are rotting in the plantations.
//Cue in; “orutookye oru
orumukureba…
Cue out…kurugaho twitwe
nejara.”//
Alexander Baabo, the chairperson
LC I Kigaaga Village says the disease was first heard in districts deep in
Isingiro district and it had spread to their area in less than one and a half
years.
//Cue in; “twizire twagiramu
obuzibu…
Cue Out…ekyo obworo bwatumara.”//
Mwesigwa Kyomukama Jotham, an
area politician and farmer, blames the outbreak on laxity by agricultural
officers and extension workers. He says that no one has been seen either
monitoring or sensitizing farmers on the disease.
//Cue in; “tibakeijaga kunu
kushomesa…
Cue out…by’okurya nabo
bagumire.”//
A similar disease was earlier on reported
in Ntungamo district.
