Browsing by Author "Dowiya, N. B."

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The alarming spread of banana Xanthomonas wilt in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and its impact on food security and income
(Global Science Books, Ltd, 2010) Dowiya, N. B.; Blomme, G.; Dheda, D. B.; Rweyemamu, C.; Velly, D.; Vigheri, N; Milambo, A.; Eden-Green, S.; Karamura, E.; Maerere, A.
Xanthomonas wilt of banana (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum) is an unforgiving disease. Rather than merely reducing yield, as do many diseases, it causes the fruit to ripen prematurely and rot. Since 2001, the disease has spread to several countries in east and central Africa. It was first observed in the territory of Masisi, 72 km northwest from Goma in North Kivu Province, DR-Congo in 2001. During a survey conducted in May 2006 in the framework of the USAID-funded Crop Crisis Control Project (C3P), Xanthomonas wilt was also observed in the Mahagi and Irumu territories, Oriental province (north-eastern DR-Congo close to the border with Uganda) and in the region between Beni (north Kivu, DR-Congo) and Bundibugyo (western Uganda). Here the disease had most likely spread from infected areas across the border in Uganda. It had also spread over an area with a 50 km radius in Kitchanga, Masisi, North Kivu. A survey conducted in May 2008 in the framework of the Belgian-funded project CIALCA, reported that Xanthomonas wilt had entered South Kivu (Minova, Kalehe territory). In north Kivu the disease is currently present in the districts of Masisi, Rutshuru, Beni, Nyiragongo and Walikale and in Oriental province the disease is currently present in the Mahagi and Irumu districts. The disease has thus spread over an area more than 600 km long (north-south axis). At least two million people in eastern DR-Congo are impacted by this disease which threatens food security and farm income. The most important means of dissemination are infected planting materials, contaminated farm tools and insect vector transmission. Extension efforts to contain the spread of Xanthomonas wilt are hampered by insecurity and inaccessibility of large parts of eastern DR-Congo.
Banana (Musa spp. Colla) cropping systems, production constraints and cultivar preferences in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
(Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2009) Dowiya, N. B.; Rweyemamu, C. L.; Maerere, A. P.
Banana and plantain (Musa spp.) are important crops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for food security and household income. However, yield has been decreasing to an average of 4.6 tons/ha currently, and the factors leading to the decline have not been fully determined. In the present study a diagnostic survey was conducted in the South Kivu (SK) and North Kivu (NK) regions of the country to determine the existing banana production constraints. Soil was sampled for analysis from 240 fields (30 samples/site) from 8 sites. The results indicated that apart from one site (Maboya, NK), soil fertility is not a limiting factor for banana production in the area. Planting materials used by farmers are exclusively suckers from existing crops and there is no institution producing clean planting materials in the area. Tillage using hand hoes for the purpose of growing common bean causes destruction of banana roots leading to poor nutrient uptake which contribute to low yield (3kg/bunch). Weed control is done by hand using hoes. Inadequate weeding and inappropriate desuckering practices increases competition between plants, leading to production of small bunches. In order of importance, the most important criteria for cultivar selection were flavour/taste, juice quality, resistance to disease and bunch size. Diseases including black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt, Xanthomonas wilt, bunchy top virus, nematodes and weevils were identified as among the main causes of cultivar disappearance in eastern DRC. Although farmers have generally little knowledge on banana plantation management, they have good understanding on value addition through beer brewing. Hence farmers allocate an average of 50% of banana fields to wine producing cultivars. Cultivars from subgroup like AAA-Cavendish, AAA-Gros Michel, AAA-Ibota, AB-Ney poovan, AABKamaramasengi and ABB are well adopted for wine making. A total of twenty nine and thirty two banana accessions were found to be grown by farmers in SK and in NK, respectively. Based on similarity among these accessions using farmers’ criteria two clusters were identified consisting of wine/beer banana, and a combination of cooking, roasting and dessert types. The good market demand for plantains have motivated farmers in North-Kivu to allocate the largest part of their farms (25%) to French plantain Nguma (AAB) while in South Kivu the largest area (64.5%) is allocated to Nshikazi (AAA-EAHB) for beer production. Farmers’ mixed cropping system includes legumes, cereals, and multipurpose trees in the banana plantation or as hedgerows. Banana production can be improved in the study area using participatory research and development approach where smallholder farmers could evaluate appropriate technology introduced in the form of research. The key intervention measures are introduction of improved varieties with high yield and/or resistant to disease and sensitization on integrated pest management which could contribute into food security and poverty reduction.