Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) is the most serious threat to sustainable banana production in East and Central Africa. Before the advent of BXW major biotic constraints were black leaf streak (Sigatoka), Fusarium wilt, bunchy top and streak viruses, weevils and nematodes. The rapid spread of BXW has diverted attention from the other biotic constraints, which, unlike BXW, rarely cause total yield loss. In addition, there are resistant varieties for most biotic constraints of banana, but not for BXW. Although ...

The request for this training was initiated by L’Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi(ISABU), who invited IITA to provide tuition and materials for the production and use of semiselectivemedia for banana Xanthomonas wilt (*see box below). ISABU wanted to create the capacity toindependently diagnose and culture BXW from diseased banana plant samples.IITA were already working on BXW in Burundi under the Crop Crisis Control (C3P) projectmanaged by Catholic Relief Service (CRS). IITA and CRS ...

This report presents findings on the effects of STCP farmer field school training conducted in 2003 with the cocoa farmers of Atwima District of the Ashanti region, Ghana. The focus of the study is on the measurement of changes in behavior with respect to crop husbandry and input usage and the impact on production. The study also measures changes in the participation of children in hazardous tasks which may have occurred as a result of FFS sensitization exercises. The intended utility of this study ...