Fusarium attacks banana plantations in Bolivia

According to data provided by Luis Milán, regional coordinator of the Phytosanitary Certification Program (Procef), Fusarium fungus affects two out of ten hectares of banana trees in the tropic and is already affecting other crops, such as coca and papaya, and it is spreading very fast.

“It is quite resistant to several medicaments and I gave up because there is no way we can control it; it is persistent”, said the producer Carlos Meneses about the pest attacking banana crops of the tropic of Cochabamba.

Losses account for 1,700 plants per hectare every year, according to estimates made by the technician of the company Befrut, Romer Mercado. Besides, he explained that the disease rots the roots of the plant, which becomes yellowish and ends up falling down.