Awareness of Banana Bacterial Wilt Control in Uganda: 1. Farmers' Perspective

The outbreak of banana bacterial wilt is increasingly threatening the production of bananas in Uganda. The most affected are non-traditional banana types (Kayinja and Kivuvu) although the disease affects all types of bananas including Matooke. Due to the gravity of the problem, Uganda Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries and National Agricultural Organization-Banana Research Programme, has been implementing a programme of making farmers aware of the problem and what they can do to control it. A number of approaches have been used including media, training of local extension staff and local leader, reaching out to civic leader and policy makers and participatory development communication. This study was carried out specifically to assess farmers' awareness of BBW and the recommended control methods, to establish farmers' management of the BBW problem and to analyse constraints that are likely to limit farmers' adoption of recommended BBW management practices. Results show that a good proportion of farmers knew about the outbreak of BBW but few knew its mode of spread and mainly in areas it has existed for some time (Kayunga, Kamuli and Luwero). In the same sites, a good proportion of farmers knew the importance of removal of male buds and other control methods such as uprooting infected plants but implementation was a problem. They cited lack of labour, tradition limitations (such as the practice of not removing male buds on kayinja), and inadequate information as some of the factors limiting adopting recommended practices for the control of Banana Bacterial Wilt. Sensitization either at district or subcounty level improved farmers' awareness of the BBW problem although they were concerned about receiving conflicting messages from different sources. Most of them reported that they were reluctant to implement messages received from media (e.g. radio). Participatory development communication seems to be a viable approach but will require commitment form all stakeholders in the banana production sector.