Kenya has embarked on a project to revive banana farming in Vihiga after containing a deadly viral disease that almost wiped out the crop in the area.
Banana Xanthomones Wilt (BXW), which has in the past left a trail of destruction in Uganda and parts of Kenya, particularly Busia and Siaya counties, caused panic in Vihiga in May 2016. Farmers in Vihiga and neighbouring counties were then put on alert following the outbreak of the disease.
Experts from the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) joined forces with local agriculture officers to develop effective interventions that would control the spread of the disease. Most farmers uprooted and buried all the affected crops to stop the disease mainly transmitted by insects such as bees and poor management of the crop. This is after noticing signs which became conspicuous and severe, causing several suckers to dry up prematurely.
International markets
The county government is now rallying farmers to revert to banana farming in a multimillion-shilling venture supported by the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP). To support the program, Governor Wilbur Ottichilo donated a banana crisps processing machine to a group of banana farmers in Hamisi sub-county. Members of Jitahidi Banana Cottage Processing group benefited from the machine
“My government is creating an enabling environment for farmer groups to help residents create jobs,” said Ottichilo.
Apart from processing crisps, Jitahidi group will also bake banana cakes and make banana jam and banana herbal wine, among other products. Vihiga Agriculture chief officer Dominic Luvavo said they will help farmer groups to secure international markets for banana products.
So far, Dr Ottichilo has opened Banana aggregation centres at Shamakhokho, Wodanga and Chango in Hamisi, Sabatia and Vihiga sub-counties. They will act as banana collection and selling centres in the county according to the governor.
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