Banana and plantain IPM in Cameroon : progress and problems

Bananas and plantains in Cameroon are attacked by several pests and diseases that significantly reduce yields of these crops. The major pests are the nematodes Radopholus similis and Pratylenchus goodeyi and the banana borer weevil Cosmopolites sordidus. Black and yellow Sigatoka caused respectively by Mycosphaerella fijiensis ans M. Musicola are the most devastating foliar diseases. Several control measures have been developed against these pests and diseases and are currently combined in an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy, unfortunately only large scale commercial banana plantations have implemented these IPM techniques. IPM components for each of the pest and disease are presented and constraints to their implementation in small scale farming system are discussed. Possible solutions for the adoption of IPM techniques are presented. (Resume d'auteur)