Impact of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt Epidemics on Farmers’ Livelihoods in the South Western Agro-Ecological Zone of Uganda

Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv., musacearum (XVM), had a significant impact on the stakeholders within the banana value chain, but the farmers that were highly dependent on banana for food and income were the most affected. For over two decades since Banana Xanthomonas wilt was first detected in the South Western Agro-Ecological Zone, it continues to thrive and spread within the zone, thus building-up inoculum that may result in severe epidemics if not eradicated. This in-depth socio-economic analysis of the impact of BXW on banana productivity, food security, and incomes found out that, all the common cooking and desert banana varieties grown in this zone were susceptible. The BXW epidemics of 2009-2013 caused a serious decline in banana production, which resulted in low sales, low incomes and low savings, thus increasing the level of poverty among 84.7% of the banana farmers. To cope with this deficit, farmers initiated alternative farming and non-farming resources for obtaining food and income. Families diverted most of their money to buying food, paying for labour and non-labour inputs to control the disease. Although most food crop production trends were decreasing during the BXW epidemic period, the decrease in banana production was reportedly higher among most respondents. Overall, banana field management costs significantly increased, and farmers who owned more than five acres incurred more money in controlling BXW. Because of the inadequate cooking banana productivity, consumption of the costly alternative foods increased farmers’ expenses, while the resource-poor families suffered hunger due to food scarcity. Therefore, incidences of: under-nutrition among children and adults; school drop-outs for lack of fees, clothing and other re-quirements; children-run away from home; late school-fees payment; abandon-relatives’ support, sicknesses among children and adults due to change of diet or inadequate food and child-abandonment increased in the communities. Frequent fights and quarrels within families due to the inadequacies or increased expenditures; and reduced commitment to other community functions and saving schemes, were reported. The most common mechanisms used by respondents to deal with the negative impact of the BXW epidemics were: growing and selling short season/annual food crops; borrowing money or taking loans; working as casual labourers; growing and trading in timber, trees, sugar cane, coffee and cotton; rearing and selling of livestock and operating non-farming businesses. The diversification of food crops and income-generating activities has partly reduced farmers’ over-dependence on banana, which is increasing crop production for improved food security, nutrition and income generation.