Ukhrul farmers link banana blight to environmental crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, November 04 2024: In Lungshang Chingkha village, 74-year-old farmer Wungnaoyo Shimrah is grappling with a mysterious crop infection ravaging his banana plants.

Over the past three years, this condition has turned the leaves yellow and sickened many of his banana plants, rendering them fruitless.

Much to his dismay, Shimrah learned that no medication is available for this affliction, especially after he consulted with some experts who visited his village some time ago.

For generations, this village, nestled in eastern Ukhrul, has thrived on its fertile soil, rich in nutrients and ideal for cultivating various crops, including bananas.

The village with around 140 houses, is known for its sizable production of sweet, fleshy bananas.

Yet, in recent years, a shadow has been cast over the promising fields with an unknown infection wreaking havoc on banana plants.

"The soil in our village is considered naturally fertile, whether it be red or black.

We don't use chemical fertilizers here," he points out, "but the unknown infection is impacting our crop yields and subsequently, our economy".

According to Shimrah, the infection manifests itself in a strikingly visible manner-leaves turn a sickly yellow, gradually progressing down to the stems which become watery and emit a foul smell, ultimately destroying the plants.

Referring to the mysterious infection in his local dialect as 'Mothei Mao', which roughly translates to endemic banana disease, he discloses that several of his 50 banana plants are being affected by the infection, preventing them from bearing fruits.

For Shimrah, the decline of his banana crops is not just a farming issue; it is a matter of livelihood and heritage.

"This infection has been a mystery for the last three years since 1 started this farm," he recalls, in an exasperated voice.

"Back in 2003, when I ran a banana farm elsewhere in my village, we didn't face such problems".

As Shimrah surveys his fields, he cannot help but draw a connection between the mysterious infection and the broader environmental crisis.

"We suspect climate change for this banana disease, but without definitive proof, we are unable to directly blame it".

He observes that shifts in weather patterns, rising temperatures and unusual rainfall - all of which seem to align with the onset of the infection, adding that certain unplanned changes in the environment are impacting agriculture.

This sentiment resonates with other local farmers who are also facing the same infection that sweeps through the region, including neighbouring villages Shangjing and Shangshak.

While suggesting possible negative impacts of changed variability in climatic conditions locally - such as the observed increase in daytime and nighttime temperatures, increased humidity, and erratic rainfall - as a potential factor, another farmer MY Khathing observes there is a strong local sentiment linking the blight to a decline in insect-eating birds due to over-hunting.

He notes, "In the olden days, when birds were abundant, such diseases were unknown to the locals because birds preyed on the insects that could infect our crops".

He continues that this observation came from the elders and many do believe that a certain ecological imbalance may be contributing to the current agricultural crisis.

He then hints at the need for preserving indigenous wildlife to ensure a healthy environment which is crucial for unhindered agricultural activities.

Khathing, who oversees a 70-plant banana farm owned by the local church, also reports that the banana blight affecting numerous farms in the village is accompanied by another concerning disease.

"This second disease is caused by a worm that infests the base of banana plants, and can severely damage the plants".

Even then, Khathing, speaking from his experience, shared that while the worm infestation can be managed by destroying the affected plants, the yellowing disease is far more problematic.

"It spreads easily to nearby plants, making it difficult to control," he rues, while adding that it tends to attack banana plants at the initial stage of fruit bearing.

Khathing recalls that the yellowing infection, which the locals also refer to as 'Nanathei Kazat' (banana disease) first emerged in the village back in 2018-19 and then resurfaced in 2021 and has continued to attack the plants ever since.

Local farmers, alarmed by the persistent affliction, sought help from agricultural experts during their visits to the village.

"We were told that there is no medication available for such infections," Shimrah explains, frustration evident in his voice.

With no pharmaceutical solutions on the horizon, Shimrah and his fellow farmers resort to a drastic measure - burning of infected plants.

"We burn them to ensure they don't produce offshoots that can't bear fruit, just like their mother plants," he explains.

"This practice is the only option available for us to stop the spread of the infection," he says, hinting that the same is a painful decision for farmers who have dedicated years to nurturing their crops.

Banana crops are said to be sensitive to temperature changes, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

They thrive within specific temperature ranges with optimal growth typically occurring between 25°C and 30°C .

Temperatures above this range can stress the plants, making them prone to infections and reduced yields.

As global temperatures rise, the possibility of exceeding the temperature thresholds suited to banana cultivation cannot be ruled out even in cooler regions like Ukhrul district.

With the unknown infections destroying banana crops and affecting fruit production, impoverished farmers are certainly feeling the pinch.

By the same token, the situation may create a ripple effect and extend to a large section of the society who relies on bananas, and lead to food security issues.

The authorities concerned would certainly do well to intervene and assist banana farmers in managing the prevailing challenges or adopting new practices, including exploring more climate resilient banana varieties to adapt to changing conditions.

(This article is published under the Joint Initiative of Media Resource Centre (MRC), Directorate of Environment & Climate Change (DE&CC), and Ukhrul District Working Journalists' Association (UDWJA) .

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