Tanzania’s banana farming industry is facing a growing crisis as Fungashada, a destructive viral disease scientifically known as Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD), continues to spread rapidly across key banana-growing regions, threatening food security and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.
Speaking during a training seminar organized by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Chief Agriculture Officer from the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), Hamad Lyimo, warned that the disease poses a major risk to the future of banana production in the country.
“Since its first detection in Buhigwe District, Kigoma, in December 2020, Fungashada has spread to at least 11 regions, including Morogoro, Mbeya, Songwe, Dodoma, Mwanza, Katavi and Dar es Salaam. This expansion is alarming and calls for immediate coordinated action,” he said.
The disease is caused by the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) and is recognized as one of the most devastating threats to banana farming globally.
Once infected, banana plants show stunted growth, curled leaf edges, and distinctive green hook-like markings on their leaves. Infected plants rarely recover and become long-term carriers of the virus, silently spreading it to other healthy crops.
According to national agricultural data, over 3.5 million tonnes of bananas were harvested in Tanzania during the 2022/23 season, with more than 60 percent grown by smallholder farmers in regions such as Kagera, Kilimanjaro and Mbeya. However, experts now warn that BBTV could slash yields by over 90 percent if not urgently addressed.
“By 2024, the disease had infiltrated nearly all major banana-growing regions in the country—except Kagera and Mara,” Lyimo added.
Unlike many plant diseases spread by pests or climate factors, Fungashada is largely spread by human activities, particularly through the uncontrolled distribution of infected banana suckers.
“This is not a disease that can be managed with pesticides. It requires the complete uprooting of infected plants and replanting with clean, certified seedlings. Without this discipline, the disease will continue to devastate farms silently,” said Dr Mpoki Shimwela, a banana specialist from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) at Maruku.
Dr Shimwela noted that demand for clean banana planting material is soaring, citing Kigoma Region’s urgent need for over four million virus-free suckers to replace infected crops.
“The government has already established a laboratory with capacity to produce five million clean banana seedlings annually. But the demand far outpaces supply,” he said.
Hemadi Msofe, a seed analyst from the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), admitted that while efforts are underway to ensure access to certified banana planting material, challenges remain due to the limited number of registered producers and insufficient investment in quality seed systems.
“TOSCI has been working with partners since 2020 to develop banana seed standards and ensure farmers have access to quality planting materials. But more needs to be done,” he said.
Filbert Luhunga from COSTECH emphasized the importance of farmers using science-backed data when making decisions about planting material, warning that uncertified banana seedlings are the main source of new infections.
Agricultural stakeholders and researchers are now urging the government to declare Fungashada a national agricultural emergency.
Such a move would facilitate the allocation of a special budget, intensify public awareness campaigns, and fast-track training for extension officers across the country.
“We are still depending on donor-funded interventions, particularly from partners such as USAID. Without a national disaster declaration, the response remains fragmented and under-resourced,” said a senior TPHPA expert who requested anonymity.
In Morogoro, banana farmers like Godfrey Amba from Kauzeni Ward have already felt the effects.
“Access to clean banana seedlings is extremely limited. This is why the disease keeps coming back. We need urgent government support to protect our farms and families,” he said.
Bananas are not only a major source of income but also a staple food for millions of Tanzanians. The potential collapse of banana production due to BBTV would severely undermine the country’s food security and push vulnerable communities into deeper poverty.
“With every infected banana plant, we are losing a potential meal, a source of income, and a safeguard against hunger. This is more than just a plant disease it’s a threat to the wellbeing of Tanzanian households,” Lyimo warned.
Experts are calling for a nationwide, science-driven response, including stricter control of planting material, expansion of certified seed labs, and the creation of demonstration farms to showcase best practices in managing the disease.
Without decisive intervention, Tanzania risks losing one of its most valuable crops and with it, the stability of millions of farming households.
