Go bananas no more: socio-economic and biosecurity implications of blood disease of banana in sumba island, the province of east nusa tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

Banana is important horticultural crop in Indonesia including in Sumba island geographically located in the drier part of the country Indeed Indonesia is the world rsquo s centre of origin and diversity of banana Unfortunately along with banana domestication there evolve banana diseases among which blood disease of banana caused by Ralstonia complex bacteria recently identified as Ralstonia syzygii subspecies celebecensis is one among the most destructive After almost a century being confined within its place of origin in Selayar Island and the neighboring mainland South Sulawesi the disease finally reached Sumba island in early s The disease is now destroying banana in the island causing significant economic losses to farmers who had just enjoyed go bananas from an increasing demand from the neighbouring island of Bali where the disease has destroyed banana since a decade earlier In addition the spread of the disease in Sumba Island has threaten banana biosecurity in the neighbouring island of Timor and Flores and the surrounding smaller islands