AGRICULTURAL NEWS - This was according to the Banana Growers’ Association of South Africa (BGASA), which said that TR4 had “all but wiped out” the two northern Mozambique banana farms where this fungal disease was first identified in 2013.
“BGASA definitely feels that the threat posed by TR4 to the South African banana industry is not being taken seriously by either DAFF or growers, and believes that a preventative plan needs to be drawn up as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Lourens added that significantly assisting with preventing TR4 from entering South Africa would require DAFF “playing a far bigger role” in the monitoring for potential TR4-infected banana propagation material, and banana fruit being imported into the country.
