Pests, diseases and natural disasters. East Africa

Most bananas grown worldwide are used for local consumption. In the tropics, bananas, especially cooking bananas, represent a major source of food, as well as a major source of income for smallholder farmers. It is in the East African highlands that bananas reach their greatest importance as a staple food crop. In countries such as Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda per capita consumption has been estimated at 450 kg per year, the highest in the world. Ugandans use the same word "matooke" to describe both banana and food.

In the past, the banana was a highly sustainable crop with a long plantation life and stable yields year round. However with the arrival of the Black Sigatoka fungus, banana production in eastern Africa has fallen by over 40%. For example during the 1970s, Uganda produced 15 to 20 tonnes of bananas per hectare. Today production has fallen to only 6 tonnes per hectare.

The situation has started to improve as new disease resistant cultivars have been developed such as the FHIA-17 (known in Uganda as the Kabana 3). These new cultivars taste different from the traditionally grown banana which has slowed their acceptance by local farmers. However, by adding mulch and animal manure to the soil around the base of the banana plant, these new cultivars have substantially increased yields in the areas where they have been tried.

The Rockefeller Foundation has started trials for genetically modified banana plants that are resistant to both Black Sigatoka and banana weevils. It is developing cultivars specifically for smallholder or subsistence farmers.

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Fruit:

Here are lists of fruits considered edible in some cuisines - Fruits of temperate climates are almost universally borne on trees or woody shrubs or liana - The Family Rosaceae dominates the temperate fruits, both in numbers and in importance - In non-technical usage, berry means any small fruit that can be eaten whole and lacks objectionable seeds - Some fruits native to Asia or of Asian Origin.

Apple:

Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same rootstock - The trees are susceptible to a number of fungal and bacterial diseases and insect pests - At least 55 million tonnes of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion - Different cultivars of apples have a distinct different taste, and this can be separated into two separate factors of flavour and texture. - An old proverb attests to the health benefits of the fruit: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."