Panama Disease in Bananas: Primary Study Begins

A preliminary study has begun on Panama (TR-4) disease, which was detected in banana production in Tikapur, Kailali. The Panama infection was discovered during a sample test on bananas conducted by the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC).

The Risk Analysis Taskforce, formed by the National Plant Conservation Organization Nepal, has initiated a field study to determine the causes behind this destructive infectious disease. A seven-member taskforce, led by Dr. Ram Bahadur Khadka, a scientist from the National Plant Pathology Research Centre, has arrived in Tikapur to commence the study.

The taskforce has started discussions with the heads of the Sudurpaschim and Lumbini province offices working in the field of agriculture, as well as local farmers. During the occasion, Dr. Khadka urged farmers to take precautions without getting discouraged.

Farmers should exercise caution to prevent the spread of the Panama disease infection to other farmlands, he said. "The results of the sample tests are alarming. Panama infection has been found in 60-65 percent of the plants," Khadka said, adding, "It is wise to remove the infected plants while implementing precautionary measures to stop the outbreak."

The taskforce has recommended that farmers establish a quarantine zone in each banana farm to prevent the soil-transferred infection from spreading to other areas. They have also suggested that farmers send a sample of bananas to the lab at the Tikapur-based Sudurpaschim University Agriculture Campus if they suspect a Panama disease infection in their banana farming.

Source: Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)