Revista de Patología Vegetal y Microbiología

Abstracto

Community Mobilization and Awareness Creation for the Management of Enset Bacterial Wilt (Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum) Disease in Essera District, Dawro Zone, Ethiopia

Misgana Mitiku, Zerihun Yemataw, Tesfaye Dejene

Enset bacterial wilt was found to be remained the most widely destructive, distributed and severe threat to enset (Ensete ventricosum) production in Essera district. To avert this problem, community based integrated enset bacterial wilt management was intervened in Duzi and Gudumu Kebeles of Essera district. In this study, suitable enset bacterial wilt control measures including sanitary control measures, improved cultural practices, disease free enset clones were demonstrated and implemented in an Integrated Demonstrated Manner (IDM). IDM intervention was done through awareness creation trainings of farmers, respective and representative partners on the IDM followed by mass mobilization. Task Force at kebele and district levels were formed, which was played a primary role in mass mobilization and IDM technologies promotions. Enset farming community views on the traditional EBW disease natural behaviors and control measures have been noticeably changed through trainings and practicing packages of IDM. About 85% of farmers in the targeted area were aware and adopted IDM; as a result BW disease problem was reduced to 15% from 45% of incidence and many of farmers were convinced about effectiveness of the IDM through collective action. In addition it was recommended that all farmers in the area should maintain strict and procedural application of IDM on regular basis to reduce EBW infection under low level; subsequent awareness creation trainings of farmers on the exact and practical use of IDM is also very vital approach.