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Battling to save the world's bananas
By Kim Gittleson
BBC business correspondent, Namialo, Mozambique

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Visiting the Matanuska banana plantation is not easy these days. After a two-hour drive from the nearest city in northern Mozambique, visitors who make it to the farm are stopped at the entrance and asked to dip their feet in pools of disinfectant. Even the cars get a bath.

Once an apparent miracle - a massive banana plantation in the middle of a dry, flat part of a desperately poor country - its formerly lush greenery has now been devastated by a deadly fungus called Panama disease.

Five years ago, Tropical race 4 (TR4), as it's formally known, was spotted here for the first time in Africa after killing off millions of bananas in Asia from the 1980s onwards.

The failure to contain the disease set off alarm bells around the world.

Could the banana, the world's most exported fruit and the source of nutrients for millions of people, be at risk of extinction?

The BBC was the first to be given access to the farm since it was hit with the disease.

We travelled all the way to Matanuska not just to observe the devastation but because the story of the plantation is about more than just bananas.
It's emblematic of unintended consequences of global trade - and the way that solutions to those consequences might come from some very unlikely places.

After our disinfectant baths, we continued down a long, red dirt road to what remains of the farm. It's strikingly lush.

Trundling along on metal zip lines are hands as they're known - carrying hundreds of bananas to a processing facility, where they too get the bath treatment before being shipped off in Dole-branded containers to the Middle East.


Standing over this procession is Elie Matabuana, the farm's head of technical services.

He spends all his time looking at every banana grown here to see if they are exhibiting the yellowing leaves and tell-tale rotting smell that indicate a plant has been infected with Panama disease.

"When (I wake] up in the morning the first thing I have in my mind is; what can I do to stop the disease?" he says.

"It's a really big struggle but we are winning," he says, before amending his answer. "We are going to win."

Containment
But Elie and the Matanuska team are fighting an uphill battle. The disease has spread swiftly over the past five years.

"When I first came to Matanuska, it was just after we identified the pathogen and at that stage the farm was just beautiful," says Stellenbosch university professor Altus Viljoen, who was the first to confirm that the disease had in fact escaped Asia.

"I knew that that might change.

"But I never knew the extent of that change and how severe it would be."

Today, only 100 hectares are left of Matanuska's original banana plants.

Of the farm's 2,700 workers, nearly two-thirds have been laid off -- sending the surrounding economy into a spiral.

And containment, along with finding a resistant banana strain, has become a pressing priority.

It's estimated that more than half a million people are employed in the banana industry in Mozambique.



'Bad luck'
Neighbouring countries like Tanzania, just 600km north of Matanuska, also depend on banana cultivation for a significant portion of their economic activity.

And though the type of banana grown for sustenance in Uganda and Congo - where residents get something like 35% of their daily nutrients from bananas - is thought to be resistant, no one knows for sure.

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"All African countries are worried about what's happening in Mozambique," says Antonia Vaz, the head of plant pathology at Mozambique's Ministry of Agriculture.

She says the Mozambican government has implemented control measures to ensure that the disease does not escape the northern part of the country.

She's also quick to note the disease isn't endemic to Mozambique. The government thinks it came from the boots of two workers from the Philippines.

"It was just very, very bad luck," she says.

Each year, more than $12bn worth of bananas, primarily of the Cavendish variety, are exported globally making it the world's favourite fruit both by value and by volume.

No cure
Usually if there are millions of dollars at stake, solutions aren't that hard to find.

But the problem in fighting Panama disease is the way that bananas are cultivated today.

The bananas that we eat are Cavendish bananas - often grown to the exclusion of all of the other thousands of types of bananas found in the world.

Growing only one variety of a plant is known as monoculture - and it's a practice that became increasingly common across the world in everything from forest plantations to fruit.

But monoculture crops are incredibly susceptible to disease.

What makes the story of the banana even more dire is that the Cavendish banana is what's known as a triploid - meaning it's sterile. New plants are produced asexually, meaning that they are genetically identical to the previous generation.


So hoping that evolution will eventually produce a resistant banana is futile - there is no natural selection to save the Cavendish.


http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42777803

If You Love Bananas, Read These 10 Shocking Things. The Number 5 Is The Best


There is a well-known phrase in the world of natural medicine, which says: eating an apple a day takes the doctor away from your life, but few people know that a banana (banana, banana, banana or whatever it is called in your city) day can also keep the doctor away. The health benefits of banana come from the many vitamins and nutrients it contains.

Some of the nutrients and compounds in bananas are carbohydrates, vitamins A, C and B6, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium and natural sugars such as sucrose, fructose and glucose. All of these make the banana a super fruit that is an integral part of a healthy daily regimen.

10 benefits of bananas for health

1. Regulate bowel movements

Irregular bowel movements are an irritating health problem that can be easily resolved with regular consumption of bananas.

Bananas contain a good amount of insoluble fiber that travels through the digestive tract, sweeping waste and producing intestinal movements that are smooth and easy to pass.

However, consuming too much banana, but too little water can contribute to constipation. In addition, eating bananas that are not fully ripe can also lead to constipation and gas. So remember to consume ripe bananas and drink enough water a day.

At the same time, bananas help treat diarrhea because they contain pectin, a water-soluble fiber that acts as a gelling agent and helps to absorb fluids in the intestines.

2. Provides Natural Energy

Bananas have a unique blend of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates that provide a rapid supply of natural energy. In addition, bananas have a healthy blend of three natural sugars: glucose, sucrose and fructose. The combination of these sugars has a great energetic potential.

Bananas are one of the few fruits that contain complex and simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates give you endurance energy and simple carbohydrates give you quick energy. Eating only two bananas will give you enough energy to do exercises for 90 minutes.

3. Soothe stomach ulcers

Bananas are beneficial to the health of the stomach in two ways. First, several substances in bananas help produce a thicker coating of protective mucus in the stomach that serves as a barrier against stomach acids.

They also help to neutralize the acidity of food, which can contribute to the formation of ulcers.

Second, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help to eliminate bacteria in the stomach, which is one of the main causes of stomach ulcers.

4. Support a healthy heart

Bananas are rich in potassium, a mineral electrolyte that is essential for your heart. Potassium travels to cells through your body and helps the circulatory system deliver oxygen to the brain. This also helps maintain a regular heart rate and an adequate balance of water in the body.

People who eat diets rich in potassium-rich foods like bananas can also substantially reduce their risk of stroke, regulate blood pressure and prevent various heart diseases.

5. Help in weight loss

If you are looking for a food that can help you lose weight, bananas are a perfect choice. They are low in fat and high in fiber and vitamins.

The dietary fiber in bananas absorbs water and takes up a lot of space in the stomach, which keeps you feeling full for longer.

In addition, they increase metabolism, thanks to its various B vitamins. The naturally sweet taste will also slow down your sweet tooth cravings when you feel the need to eat something sweet.

6. Treats anemia

Bananas are a good source of iron for people suffering from anemia. Iron deficiency is a key factor in this health condition and eating foods rich in iron will help replenish this essential mineral.

Regular consumption of bananas along with other iron-rich foods can gradually reduce the symptoms associated with anemia including fatigue, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat.

7. Treat morning sickness

If you are pregnant and looking for ways to combat morning sickness, take a banana. Calming properties help replenish the body and restore a healthy level of blood glucose. This in turn helps to combat nausea.

Pregnant women are advised to eat a banana after waking up in the morning and after each meal. In addition, bananas have several nutrients that can help lift your mood and support the physical development of your unborn baby.

8. Promotes eye health

Bananas contain vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is vital for eye health. Adequate daily vitamin A intake also decreases the risk of night blindness.

According to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, eating three or more servings of bananas per day can also reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older adults by 36% compared to which consume less than 1.5 servings daily.

9. Healing mosquito bites

Mosquito bites cause a lot of itching and sometimes they are painful. You can treat these symptoms with banana peels.

Rub the inside of the banana peels into the bite for about five to ten minutes. This will help reduce itching and swelling. In fact, this simple remedy often works better than creams or medications that are in the pharmacy.

10. Helps control depression

According to a recent survey of people suffering from depression, many participants felt much better after eating a banana.

Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, which is known to help you relax, improve your mood and, in general, make you feel happier.

Also, when you suffer from insomnia due to depression, you can eat a banana before bedtime; Your tryptophan will help you sleep better.

Banana also contain tyrosine, an amino acid that increases levels of norepinephrine and dopamine. Low levels of these neurotransmitters that stimulate brain activity, alertness and concentration are often associated with depression.

With all the health benefits of this low-cost fruit, add bananas to your grocery list every time you buy. They are a great choice for a healthy sweet snack between meals as well.

Source: https://www.homeremediescorner.com