Kenya: Vihiga county embarks on a drive to revive banana farming

After containing a deadly viral disease that nearly wiped out the crop in the area, Vihiga County has embarked on a project to revive banana farming. Banana Xanthomones Wilt (BXW), which has previously caused havoc in Uganda and parts of Kenya, particularly in the counties of Busia and Siaya, caused panic in Vihiga in May 2016. Following the outbreak of the disease, farmers in Vihiga and neighbouring counties were put on high alert. Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) experts collaborated with local agriculture officers to develop effective interventions to stop the disease from spreading. 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. Nicholas Malalu from Mwikusi village in Emuhaya was forced to uproot at least 1,000 suckers infected by the viral disease to prevent further spread into neighbouring farms. He had earlier noticed signs which became ...