{"id":1848,"date":"2026-08-17T08:38:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bbtvalliance.org\/?p=1848"},"modified":"2026-08-17T08:38:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:38:35","slug":"collaborative-effort-saves-ukerewes-bananas-from-bbtv-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bbtvalliance.org\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/collaborative-effort-saves-ukerewes-bananas-from-bbtv-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"Collaborative effort saves Ukerewe\u2019s bananas from BBTV threat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lost Hope: A smallholder farmer\u2019s banana garden severely devastated by Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD), resulting in the loss of most plants.<\/p><\/div>\n

Banana farmers on Ukerewe Island, Tanzania, faced disaster when banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) swept through, wiping out over 90% of the crop and threatening the island\u2019s main food and income source. For this remote community, bananas are a staple food and a lifeline. As livelihoods were threatened, a partnership between scientists, local leaders, and farmers emerged to restore hope.<\/p>\n

BBTV, which causes banana bunchy top disease (BBTD), spreads through infected planting material and the aphid vector. BBTV was first officially\u00a0reported in Tanzania in 2020, and by 2023, the virus had spread to 12 regions, with Ukerewe District among the hardest hit. Most farmers were unaware of the disease and unknowingly used infected suckers, fueling the outbreak. As infection rates soared, harvests plummeted, leaving many\u00a0households<\/a>\u00a0food insecure.<\/p>\n

In response,\u00a0IITA<\/u><\/a>\u2013CGIAR<\/u><\/a>, Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), and\u00a0Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)<\/u><\/a>\u00a0collaborated with local authorities. Their first move was to remove infected plants and give farmers access to healthy, virus-free banana plantlets. In November 2024, a macropropagation unit was established, with the capacity to produce 6,000 disease-free banana planting materials. The facility has so far produced 2,950 disease-free plantlets across five banana varieties:\u00a0Inshakara<\/em>,\u00a0Nyoya<\/em>, TARIBAN 2, TARIBAN 4, and FHIA 17. Plantlets were distributed to farmers, with each recipient receiving between 10 and 100 plants depending on farm size.<\/p>\n

Within months, positive results are becoming visible. Fields replanted with clean plantlets have begun to recover, with healthy banana plants returning to the landscape. Although a few new infections occurred, mostly due to aphids, most farms remained disease-free thanks to improved field hygiene and regular training for farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are seeing real benefits of using disease-free banana plantlets,\u201d said Dr George Mahuku, IITA Plant Pathologist. \u201cWorking together and using clean planting material is what is making the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Restored

Restored Hope: A smallholder farmer in Ukerewe successfully restored their banana garden using certified disease-free planting material produced through the locally established macro-propagation unit.<\/p><\/div>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Farmers like Sospeter Mgaya expressed renewed hope, noting bigger bunches and healthier crops than he thought possible after the outbreak. Mgaya also called on local authorities to enact bylaws supporting the removal of infected plants and to allocate resources for herbicides, ensuring the gains are sustained.<\/p>\n

The control strategy focuses on eradicating infected mats (clumps of shoots from a banana\u00a0plant\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0base) by uprooting them or injecting herbicide, then replanting with virus-free material. This approach, coupled with continuous farmer education, has been key to recovery. The awareness campaign, led by IITA and partners, also emphasized the importance of roguing infected plants and eliminating volunteer plants that can harbor the virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cBBTD spread in Ukerewe is a classic case of disease expansion through the movement of infected planting materials. Building farmer awareness of BBTD is a critical first step toward managing the disease and restoring banana production,\u201d said Dr Lava Kumar, IITA Virologist.<\/p>\n

Despite progress, persistent challenges remain: the ongoing risk of reintroduction of infected suckers from neighboring areas, a limited supply of clean planting material, and inconsistent application of recommended management practices. Hamady Lyimo of TPHPA stressed the need for widespread coordinated action. \u201cSustained and widespread adoption across the community is essential for successful disease eradication,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

District Executive Director Vincent Augustine Mbua reaffirmed the commitment of local government and stakeholders to rebuild a resilient banana sector. The mission emphasizes maintaining momentum by strengthening disease surveillance, expanding clean seed distribution, and continuing farmer education. Ukerewe\u2019s experience demonstrates that with collaboration and determination, even the most devastating plant diseases can be overcome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Banana farmers on Ukerewe Island, Tanzania, faced disaster when banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) swept through, wiping out over 90% of the crop and threatening the island\u2019s main food and income source. For this remote community, bananas are a staple food and a lifeline. As livelihoods were threatened, a partnership\u2026<\/p>\n

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