A three staff delegation from AU-IAPSC is taking part in the Coordinated Management of Banana Bunchy Top Disease Workshop (TCP/RAF/3906) to be held from 06-10 May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) caused by the Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) has been reported (2021) simultaneously in Uganda and Tanzania This raises grave concern, especially for banana (& plantain; Musa spp.) production in the Great Lakes Region in East Africa. BBTD, the most destructive disease of plantain and banana, is caused by a virus, Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV, genus Babuvirus, family Nanoviridae). This virus is known to infect only plantain and banana and it is transmitted by an insect, banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa), which is known to be widespread in all the banana and plantain producing regions in Africa. This viral disease also spreads through planting material (corms, suckers, or tissue culture plants) derived from infected sources. Since the disease was first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the 1960s, the virus has now spread to 18 African countries, threatening the livelihoods of 70 million banana farmers and imperiling the diversity of the varieties they grow.
Bananas are an important staple and food security crop in the East, Central and West Africa regions. Cultivated by more than four million small-holder households and bringing an income of about USD 1,244 per household per annum, bananas are one of the highest smallholder income-generating agricultural commodities.
It is, therefore, imperative that measures such as demonstrations and hands-on training are put in place to delineate the spread of BBTV, effect containment measures, create awareness among stakeholders, and eradicate the disease to protect the banana industry in the region. African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) and FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAO-RAF) have partnered under FAO’s “Support Coordinated Management of Banana Bunchy Top in Eastern Africa” Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP).
The TCP Project Objectives: The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the sustainable management of BBTV in Eastern Africa. The specific objectives are:
- To strengthen the coordination of stakeholders in the management of BBTV in the region.
- To enhance the capacity of stakeholders to implement effective management approaches for BBTV.
- To promote the adoption of best practices for the management of BBTV in the region.
Workshop Objectives
With the support of the TCP, AU-IAPSC, in collaboration with member states and partners, will be conducting a workshop on 06-10 May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. Data from extensive research conducted by various experts indicates that successful efforts have been made to manage BBTD in the region. The workshop presents an opportunity to strengthen BBTV management with East Africa and the Great Lakes region counterparts. The specific workshop objectives will be:
- To engage countries, governments, decision-makers and partners in BBTD containment efforts;
- To contribute to supporting a coordinated response to BBTD in East Africa and beyond through experience sharing and
- To mobilize additional resources for BBTV management by developing a joint funding proposal.
Expected Outputs
- Increased awareness and commitment to the project among stakeholders.
- Identified challenges and risks, and ongoing mitigation measures.
- A draft funding initiative
Participants
Participants to the workshop will be the BBTV Taskforce members from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda; BBTV focal points from Benin, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Rwanda; IITA; The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT; STDF/WTO; icipe; FAO and AU-IAPSC.