Banana growers in Kenya’s Embu, Murang’a and Kirinyaga districts will be able to get disease-resistant and high-yielding varieties through a partnership with researchers at Kenyatta University. This will enable farmers from these areas to compete with their counterparts in Kisii and those from Uganda and Tanzania for the green banana market.
The scientists are multiplying and testing for adoption hybrid green banana varieties that are resistant to Black Sigatoka disease; one of the most devastating foliar diseases of bananas worldwide.
Mary Mwangi, a researcher at KU’s department of biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology, said Sigatoka reduces photosynthetic area and affects fruit filling. “Affected plants produce small fruits, small bunches and have overall yield reduction of up to 100 per cent in severe infestation. The fruits also ripen unevenly and prematurely which is undesirable for cooking bananas and compromises market quality,” Mwangi told the-star.co.ke.