Mozambique bans all movements of banana from Nampula and Cabo Delgado

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Mozambique bans all movements of banana from Nampula and Cabo Delgado

11:36 CAT | 27 Mar 2018

Notícias

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA) has banned the movement of bananas produced in Cabo Delgado and Nampula after detecting a new disease that attacks the crop.

‘Panama Disease’ was detected on Matanuska and Jacaranda banana farms. It is believed that it can cause the loss of the entire crop.

A MASA statement reveals that Matanuska, in Nampula province, suffered significant losses in an area of 1,550 hectares, leading to the company declaring bankruptcy in February.

The disease has already severely affected two Jacaranda farms in Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces.

MASA has also decreed a quarantine of propagating material such as stalks and seedlings, as well as banning access to affected farms, with the exception of workers, plant health technicians and other authorised personnel.

As a containment measure, the suspension of all banana production in Matanuska has been ordered. Affected Jacaranda farms will remain in production, but under strict quarantine measures.

MASA says bananas sold in Cabo Delgado and Nampula must be washed and disinfected with fungicide, transported in safe conditions, and all packaging treated in order to remove soil and dusts.

Panama Disease inhabits the soil and infects the plants from the roots. The disease occurs in several countries including Brazil, Australia, Honduras, Suriname, Costa Rica, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Among its symptoms are the progressive yellowing of the leaves of the banana palm, which eventually wither away.

Source: Notícias