Banana Xhanthomonas Wilt And Household Coping Strategies Towards Food Security: The Case Of Southern Muleba -District Kagera Region

ABSTRACT

Banana Xhathomonas Wilt has become a major problem in Kagera Region hence affecting food security in the community. Although various measures have been taken to address the problem there are hardly any efforts on other native copying strategies to address shocks on food insecurity. The study was guided by three specific objectives, namely: to examine different coping strategies adapted by households in maintaining food security status, to examine the challenges faced by households with the adapted strategies and to find out different solutions to the challenges faced with adapted coping strategies. The study was carried out in Muleba District, Kagera Region in the Wards of Kishanda and Buganguzi. The study adopted descriptive design which targeted a population of 100 respondents. Data from primary source were gathered using questionnaires, focus group discussion and interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative instruments were employed to analyze the field data. The study found out that the coping strategies that are being adopted are planting of short season crops, assistance and remittances from relatives, planting of new crop varieties, trade and business and migrating to other crop productive areas. The study also found that there are challenges faced along with the adapted coping strategies which are limited farm inputs, limited capital, limited agricultural professionals as well as limited land for cultivation. The study also found out the available solutions to the challenges faced in coping with the adapted strategies, include: maximum use of the available agricultural extension officers, doing of petty business, planting of local varieties as well as application of compost manure. The study, therefore, recommends on the interventions from the government and other partners in the efforts to abolish BXW, a need for more research to find a permanent solution to BXW disease such as pesticides and interventions from various partners to provide more crop varieties so that people can plant more food varieties that can maintain food security status as well as increasing household income.