An Economic Assessment of Banana Genetic Improvement and ...

144 CHAPTER 10
(Kangire and Rutherford 2001; Okaasai
and Boa 2004), and low soil fertility. Overall,
low soil fertility and banana bacteria
wilt appear to constitute the greatest threat
to banana productivity. Banana bacteria
wilt has recently spread alarmingly through
much of Central Region with devastating
effects (Okaasai and Boa 2004). Just as
striking is the assembled evidence that
yields on the extensive low-productivity
areas occupied by subsistence-oriented
growers are reduced by 50 percent or more
by a combination of biotic pressures (weevils,
nematodes, and black Sigatoka); the
same constraints reduce yields by an estimated
5–15 percent in high-productivity
areas. This evidence reflects both differences
in biophysical conditions and greater
use of improved cultural practices in the
high-productivity areas (NARO, IITA, and
NRI 1994; Tushemereirwe et al. 2003). here> 10.2near 10.3near