Leaders in Zombo District have expressed grave concerns over the rapid spread of the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), which continues to ravage banana plantations across the district.

Described as one of the most destructive viral diseases of bananas, BBTV has inflicted severe losses on farmers.

Jane Evelyne Othora, Chairperson of the Zombo District Production Committee, reported that recent assessments estimate that 5% of banana gardens have already been destroyed.

“This disease is devastating and has reached an economic threshold requiring urgent intervention by the Ministry of Agriculture,” Othora stated.

She further emphasized the need to engage authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease is believed to have originated, to implement control measures.

Challenges for Farmers

The virus spreads primarily through banana aphids, small black insects that transmit the disease while feeding on the sap of infected plants.

Farmers in Zombo are struggling to control the disease, which has been exacerbated by the porous nature of the Uganda-DRC border.

The movement of infected planting materials is a significant contributor to its spread.

Many farmers feel helpless as their banana crops, vital both as a staple food and a source of income, continue to decline.

“Farmers are losing their livelihoods, and we urgently need government intervention,” said Binen David Arua, a district councillor for Jangokoro Sub-County.

The virus, first reported in Zombo in 2021, has now spread to several sub-counties, including Nyapea, Abanga, Jangokoro, Paidha, Atyak, Kango, and Alangi, as well as Paidha and Padea town councils.

Zombo District Agriculture Officer, Patrick Anenuiu, confirmed the situation:
“We identified the disease in two spots in 2024, and now cases have been confirmed in multiple areas. Unfortunately, some hidden gardens are still harbouring the disease due to a lack of awareness among farmers.”

Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) have engaged stakeholders in Zombo to devise strategies, including intensive sensitization campaigns, to curb the spread of BBTV.

Dr. Joab Tugume, Senior Agriculturalist in charge of quarantine at MAAIF, advised farmers to frequently inspect their gardens and immediately destroy infected plants.
“This disease originated from the DRC. We are urging farmers to stop exchanging planting materials, particularly with border communities,” Tugume said.

Similarly, George Mahogo, a plant pathologist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, urged farmers to burn infected banana suckers to prevent the spread of aphids.

Symptoms of banana bunchy top disease include:

• Dark green streaks on the underside of leaves in a Morse code-like pattern.
• Stunted and deformed banana bunches in mature plants.
• Small, unmarketable, and deformed fruit.

BBTV-infected banana plants rarely produce fruit, and any fruit that is produced is often unsuitable for consumption or sale.

With a population of over 300,000, most of whom rely on bananas for sustenance and income, Zombo is considered West Nile’s leading banana-producing district.

Leaders and agriculturalists continue to advocate for robust interventions to save the region’s vital crop and prevent further losses to the farming community.