Occurrence, distribution and farmers’ knowledge on the management of Fusarium wilt of oil palm among smallholders in Kalangala, Uganda

Asiimwe, Alex; Ddamulira, Gabriel; Ddumba, Gerald; Mutyaba, Edrine; Amugoli, Otuba M.; Ramathani, Idd; Joseph, Kimuli

Occurrence, distribution and farmers’ knowledge on the management of Fusarium wilt of oil palm among smallholders in Kalangala, Uganda

2020

Fusarium wilt of oil palm is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. elaeidis and is particularly prevalent in Africa. This study was conducted in Kalangala district, the commercial oil palm cradleland in Uganda and it involved undertaking a survey among smallholder farmers to assess the occurrence, distribution, farmers’ knowledge and management level of Fusarium wilt of oil palm. This was achieved by taking an inventory of all the plants in a given plot, noting the presence or absence of symptoms of Fusarium wilt and calculating the incidence in each given plot. This is the first time Fusarium is identified in oil palm plantations in Uganda and the results showed that infected trees were mainly found in Mugoye sub-county, Kagulube block. The highest average severity (3) was observed in Kagulube as compared to all other blocks (severity score 2). The highest percentage incidence (15%) was noted in Kagulube and the least (5%) in Bbeta East, Bbeta West and Bujjumba blocks. Despite the widespread occurrence of Fusarium wilt in Kalangala, management of the disease among farmers was inadequate. Urgent measures need to be undertaken to prevent spread of Fusarium wilt within and among farmers’ fields.

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