Bunchy top and bacterial wilt.....

If you've just read the blog posting below this one, you'd be forgiven for thinking I'm banging on again about unspeakable diseases affecting men's private parts.....

But, no - bunchy top and bacterial wilt are two serious diseases of banana crops that are starting to cause havoc across Africa from Angola up to Uganda, and including Rwanda. In most of these countries bananas are THE staple food crop. Any of you reading this who have been to Rwanda will know just how omnipresent banana plantations are, and how much they figure in the local diet.

So these diseases could lead to widespread famine if they are not tackled. They're both spread by insects; bunchy top stunts the trees and reduces the yield; wilt kills the trees and makes the fruit inedible.

Just as if Rwanda doesn't have enough problems!