Photo Gallery

Early symptoms of CMV

Symptoms of CMV

Severe infection by CMV

CMV affected plants in the foreground - in the background a variety tolerant to CMV

Effect of CMV on yield - healthy plant from same cultivar

Effect of CMV on yield - CMV infected plant from same cultivar

CMV infected plants through planting of infected cuttings (early stage)

CMV infected plants through white flies (later stage)

White flies are vectors of begoviruses, including CMV

Early signs of CMV and BXW

Sorghum streak virus

A good banana crop in an uninfected farm

A well tended banana holding

Early symptoms of BMV

Male flower said to be main driver in transmission of BXW

Young shoots showing early signs of BXW

Latter stages of BXW

BXW affected banana fruit - note that the fruit cannot be eaten

Nearly complete loss due to BXW

Complete loss of banana crop due to BXW

Stem of uprooted banana because of BXW

Unsanitary disposal of banana stems infected with BXW

Young shoots emerging from disposed of BXW infected banana stem

Uprooting has just started, but all plants must be uprooted, including those not currently infected

Farmers uprooting crops

Complete loss of crops

Running away from BXW to settle in a drier environment with high risk of CMV

Vanilla

Rosella Hibiscus sabdariffa - can be eaten straight, or made into jam or wine

As disease decimates traditional crops, farmers shift to other crops (pineapple)

Farm A - early stages of BXW infection - note the integration of crops (May 2006)

Farm A (May 2006)

Farm A (May 2006)

Farm A - effect of BXW (July 2006)

Farm A - CMV (July 2006)

Farm A - intensification of BXW and CMV (July 2006)

Farm A - exposed house (July 2006)

Farm B - planting new crops in area where bananas uprooted because of BXW (May 2006)

Farm B - nearly complete loss of crops due to planting in infected area (July 2006)

Farm B - affected by BXW - maize as alternative crop

Goats, cattle and chickens are crucial to most rural livelihoods

Cattle on the Tanzania-Uganda border

Cattle grazing on the international boundary

Concentration and mixing of livestock serves spread of infectious diseases

Cattle must walk long distances in search of pastures and water, by the time they reach the watering points they are exhausted

Watering cattle in the dry season

Local chickens often share sleeping quarters with humans

Half-cooked meat facilitates spread of some zoonotic diseases and pests

Using wild grass on farms

Disease cycles between farm crops and wild plants

Livestock and humans share (unclean) water sources

Government information campaigns to halt transmission of banana bacterial wilt

Government sign advises on banana bacterial wilt prevention strategies - sanitary disposal of infected banana refuse, removal of male flower, proper cleaning of farming tools

Despite government efforts, across the street at the market, (infected) banana refuse continues to be carried away for use on farms

Labour deficit households said to be the main source of microbes and pests

Fish landing sites famed as entreports for human, livestock and crop diseases

The movement of infected crops and livestock within districts, regions and countries, and across international borders, is a major cause of disease spread

On farm training on BXW

Training of the Tanzania Biosecurity Research Team