Banana Crops Face Threat from Sigatoka, Panama Wilt; Farmers Advised on Prevention

• Fungal diseases like Yellow Sigatoka, Black Sigatoka, and Panama Wilt are rapidly spreading in banana crops in Sitamarhi district.
• Symptoms include leaf spots, premature drying, and early fruit ripening, impacting yield and quality.
• Yellow Sigatoka causes yellow spots on new leaves, turning brown; Black Sigatoka forms black spots on leaf undersides, accelerating fruit ripening.
• Panama Wilt leads to sudden drying of the entire plant, yellowing leaves, and a foul odor from the stem.
• Farmers are advised to use resistant varieties, maintain weed-free fields, ensure proper drainage, and treat soil with Trichoderma viride.

Why It Matters: Banana farmers must adopt integrated disease management to combat Sigatoka and Panama Wilt for better yields.