Assessment of the Prevailing Diseases Affecting Banana Cultivation in Oriental Mindoro: Key for Sustainable Management Practices

This study assessed the prevalent diseases impacting banana cultivation in Oriental Mindoro, focusing on the primary producing municipalities of Bansud, Bongabong, and Pola. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, the research integrates field validation, semi-structured interviews with farmers, and spatial mapping through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify and evaluate disease prevalence, geographical distribution, and the effectiveness of current management practices. Key diseases identified include Sigatoka, Bacterial Wilt (Bugtok and Moko), Banana Bract Mosaic Virus (BBrMV), Fusarium Wilt, and Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), with Sigatoka noted as the most widespread. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers cultivate the Saba variety, with significant variations in disease occurrence and control measures among municipalities. Factors influencing disease incidence include overcrowded planting, inadequate tool sanitation, degraded soil quality, and climatic conditions such as frequent rainfall. Farmers primarily manage diseases through the removal of infected plants, the use of tissue-cultured or resistant varieties, and the application of chemical treatments; however, there remains a notable gap in fully integrated disease management strategies. ANOVA results indicate statistically significant differences in banana variety distribution and disease prevalence across the municipalities.