Economic Importance of the Banana Bacterial Wilt in Uganda

A study was conducted to estimate the economic value of the likely loss due to banana bacterial wilt (BBW) if not controlled; and the potential benefits of implementing the short-term control. Using survey data from 8 districts of Uganda and banana production data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) a logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of control measures over time and exponential growth model was used to simulate data over 15 years. The result shows that if BBW is not controlled, Uganda stands to lose an estimated 295 million dollars worth of banana output valued at farm gate prices. This translates into an annual 200 dollars of food and income per household at stake. Adoption of recommended sanitation methods would result in saving over 40% of the loss due to BBW on matooke; much less on beer types because of their low market value, low adoption, and high cost of adopting sanitation measures compared to matooke. In the long run developing resistant cultivars is the most sustainable option. Although the value of loss of output from beer types is relatively low compared to matooke the crop remains very critical in areas where beer is main source of income. The control of BBW in beer growing areas is equally important to reduce reservoirs of inoculum that will remain a nuisance to otherwise well managed matooke plantation.