Minister of Agriculture Alfred Prospere has proposed that the government take responsibility for treating banana plantations affected by Black Sigatoka disease, rather than leaving the burden of managing the disease to individual farmers.
The move would strengthen the fight against the fungal disease that continues to threaten the banana industry.
Suggesting that the government take a more active role in addressing the issue faced by farmers—who rely on a special oil to fight the disease on their crops—Prospere told the pre-Cabinet press briefing this week: “We have to increase our technology in terms of how we treat the disease. Our farmers will not have to pay for the oil. It becomes a government responsibility to treat the plantations over a period of time.”
At the same time, the minister stressed that while oil treatments are essential, they are not a standalone solution. Proper farm management plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy plantations and preventing outbreaks, he said.
“The health of your plantation is important, so our farmers have to engage in proper drainage, maintenance of drains [and] fertilising on time, because you want to be able to have that level of resistance,” Prospere said.
The agriculture minister cited a successful example of a banana farm that has remained free of Black Sigatoka due to the farmer’s diligence. However, he warned that disease control efforts could be ineffective if neighbouring farms do not adopt the same preventative measures.
“While his plantation may be healthy, the other neighbouring plantations can… make it very difficult for him to at least prevent the spread in his plantation,” he pointed out.
In addition to disease management, Prospere highlighted the role of the National Fair Trade Organisation (NFTO) in supporting the banana industry. He noted that the NFTO’s ripening facility will help boost local banana consumption and reduce dependence on export markets, benefiting both farmers and the local economy.
