Integrated management of Fusarium wilt of bananas in the Philippines and Australia

Abstract

This project aimed to improve the long-term management of Fusarium wilt and the livelihoods of smallholders and communities dependent on export Cavendish bananas production.
Fusarium wilt is the biggest threat to the Philippines’ substantial Cavendish bananas export industry, impacting the trade and livelihoods of smallholder banana producers.

About 10% of the land currently used for export production in Mindanao is infected with Fusarium wilt, which is continuing to spread, with differing degrees of severity.

The export industry could be wiped out in as little as five years if Fusarium wilt of bananas is not controlled in Mindanao. This would disrupt the livelihoods of up to 300,000 families.

This project aimed to develop techniques to limit Fusarium wilt losses to smallholder Cavendish production in Davao del Norte and Ladyfinger production in Australia; evaluate the effectiveness of integrated crop management approaches in enabling commercial banana production where Fusarium wilt is present; and determine barriers to adoption of systems to suppress Fusarium wilt in banana production.