Identifying Symptoms and Managing Fusarium Wilt: Practices Used by Banana Farmers from Selected Areas in Maitum, Sarangani Province

Banana is one of the primary staple foods globally grown in over 130 countries, with the Philippines as the second largest exporter in Asia. The occurrence seriously threatens the total global banana production and spread of Fusarium wilt, a disease caused by a fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Banana farmers in Maitum, Sarangani Province, are experiencing Fusarium wilt and its negative impact, causing plant loss, reduced fruit yield, and income decline. Due to this, some of these farmers identify the occurrence of the disease through its symptoms and impose management practices against Fusarium wilt. This study aimed to determine how banana farmers identify and manage the disease through a qualitative survey-based method. Results revealed that small-scale banana farm owner of Farm E do not recognize majority of the external symptoms of Fusarium wilt. Farm C do not distinguish the symptoms of Fusarium wilt infection in the internal vegetative parts of infected banana plant. As observed, farm owners of both Farms C and E do not implement most of common management practices that a farmer should implement in infected banana plants and farm. Through a set of subjective follow-up questions, it was identified that all of the banana farm owners, except from Farms A and B, identify fusarium wilt infection through other symptoms and perform effective management practices implemented by each banana farm owner in containing and mitigating Fusarium wilt infection. Farms C, D, and E used chemicals to manage the fungal disease, posing risks of recurrent outbreaks and environmental and human health impacts. Overall, variations in responses, symptom recognition, and management practices may stem from demographic difference of the farm owners. Recommendations include diagnostic tests, and implement effective awareness campaigns to enrich the knowledge of small-scale banana farmers in identifying and controlling the spread of Fusarium wilt.