Banana plague poses global threat

A rapidly spreading soil fungus is devastating banana plantations across Asia and infecting farms in Africa, the Middle East and Australia, prompting the UN to request $50m to fight the epidemic that threatens a $36bn industry

Countries under severe attack by
Tropical Race 4

Australia
China
Jordan
Lebanon
Taiwan
Philippines
Malaysia
Thailand
Pakistan
Indonesia
Mozambique

PANAMA DISEASE

Fusarium fungus

lives in soil and attacks roots before spreading through entire plant. Spores contaminate soil for decades

Spreads through soil movement, typically caused by workers, machinery, animals or flooding

Tropical Race 1: First strain nearly wiped out Gros Michel banana in 1950s – Cavendish variety found to be resistant to it

Tropical Race 4: New strain, first detected in Taiwan in 1990, kills Cavendish – only type grown for international market


GLOBAL EXPORTS 2011-13 average

Latin America & Caribbean 4%
Africa 80% 
Asia 16%

Efforts underway to halt TR4 before it reaches Latin America, which produces 25% of all bananas grown worldwide, and 80% of global exports

© GRAPHIC NEWS
Sources: Panamadisease.org, FAO