4.6 Article

Gender Roles in Sourcing and Sharing of Banana Planting Material in Communities with and without Banana Bunchy Top Disease in Nigeria

Journal

SUSTAINABILITY
Volume 13, Issue 6, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/su13063310

Keywords

seed systems; gender; banana bunchy top virus; disease control; vegetative propagation

Funding

  1. CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB)
  2. CGIAR Trust
  3. University of Queensland Project on BBTV mitigation in Nigeria - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) [OPP1130226]
  4. BMFG [OPP1130226]

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The study investigated the gender dimensions and sociocultural aspects of banana seed sourcing and sharing practices among male and female farmers in BBTD and non-BBTD areas in southwest Nigeria. It found that seed sharing is a social responsibility within communities, with differences in sourcing practices between men and women farmers potentially increasing the risk of disease spread. Awareness raising efforts on disease spread through infected seeds should consider gender-specific roles and social practices to mitigate its spread within communities.
Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) is the most devastating disease of banana and plantain (Musa spp.). The disease spreads through the use of infected vegetative propagules and the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa) is the virus vector. This study seeks to understand the gender dimensions and sociocultural aspects of banana seed (vegetative propagule) sourcing and sharing practices among men and women farmers, and its influence on BBTD spread and disease control efforts. Data were collected from 300 banana farmers (187 men and 113 women) in BBTD and non-BBTD areas in southwest Nigeria. The results revealed that seed sharing within the communities is a social responsibility with members expected to share banana seed with the needy mainly as gifts rather than sold for cash. Men farmers mostly sourced seed from old fields, while women sourced seed from relatives. Harvesting of banana seed was predominantly the responsibility of men with women as helpers. Both men and women farmers in the non-BBTD area cultivated larger farm sizes and harvested more banana planting material than farmers in the BBTD area. The existing seed sourcing practices among men and women farmers heighten the risk of BBTD spread. Awareness raising on disease spread through infected seeds should consider gender-differentiated roles and social practices to reduce its spread within communities.

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