''The World Bank through the Agricultural Sector Wide Approach (ASWAP) program has assisted government to reintroduce an improved banana crop in the affected districts starting with a pilot project in Thyolo and Mulanje," explains crop protection officer for Blantyre Agricultural Development Division (ADD), Joyce Nthenda.
However, Nthenda was quick to mention that the new variety is not resistant to the banana top bunchy disease but it is rather early maturing and high yielding as compared to the local varieties.
"We have been encouraging farmers in the areas to get rid of the existing bananas as the only way of ensuring a total swap of the banana bunchy top disease prior to the introduction of the new crop as it is not resistant and may easily get the disease too," added Nthenda.
"So only those farmers who have completely removed their old banana crops in the selected areas will be getting the new crops,"emphasized Nthenda.
The to be introduced banana crop is a hybrid crop produced through tissue culturing which is a scientific process not yet available in the country hence the banana seedlings have been imported from as far as South Africa.
