The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is ramping up efforts to develop disease-resistant banana varieties to fight the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)—a devastating pathogen that can cause total yield loss.
BBTV, spread by banana aphids, leads to Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD), which severely stunts banana plants, crippling production. Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific are among the most affected regions, with multiple African countries including Angola, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania facing severe outbreaks.
Developing Disease-Resistant Banana Varieties
IITA scientist Happyness Mpanda announced that the institute has launched a breeding initiative to develop BBTV-resistant banana seedlings. Currently, 72 banana varieties from IITA’s breeding programme are undergoing screening, with trials underway in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to determine resistance levels.
“There is no chemical treatment or cure for BBTV. The only effective control measure is to uproot and destroy infected plants and replant with disease-free seedlings,” said Mpanda.
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This presents a challenge, as bananas serve as a primary food and income source for millions of farmers. Once confirmed resistant varieties are identified, they will undergo farm trials in the DRC before being distributed to agricultural research institutions for rapid dissemination.
BBTV’s Threat to Tanzania’s Banana Sector
In Tanzania, BBTV has already spread to seven regions, including Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, and Kilimanjaro, posing a severe threat to the country’s banana farmers.
Fatuma Mussa, another IITA researcher, stressed that developing resistant varieties is a long-term, sustainable solution. However, she urged immediate disease containment measures, including:
• Destroying infected plants to prevent further spread.
• Raising awareness among farmers on disease management.
• Enforcing strict regulations on the movement of banana planting material.
“Farmers must source seedlings from certified, disease-free suppliers to prevent further outbreaks,” Mussa emphasized.
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Urgent Call for Government Action
Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) researcher Hamadi Lyimo revealed that BBTV was first detected in Tanzania in 2020 in Buhigwe District, Kigoma Region, after spreading from Burundi. Since then, it has significantly impacted banana production.
To curb the spread, researchers are urging the government to enforce movement restrictions on planting material. Without intervention, the banana sector—vital for food security and economic growth—remains at risk.
With IITA’s continued research and collaboration with local authorities, there is hope for a resilient banana industryacross Africa. The introduction of disease-resistant banana varieties could provide farmers with a long-term safeguardagainst BBTV’s devastating effects.
