Banana researchers from across the globe are congregating in Kampala, Uganda from 27 to 29 March 2018 to discuss options for safe and effective methods to control banana pests and diseases and to reduce the use of harmful chemical pesticides.
While banana is a major staple food and a source of income for millions of people in East Africa, its production is greatly hampered by a plethora of pests and diseases. One of the control methods has been the use of chemical pesticides, but this is no longer a sustainable option due to their harmful effects on the environment and toxic residues.
![Roughly the length of a finger, the insects fly together by the millions and devour crops. [Tiksa Negeri/Reuters]](https://storage.googleapis.com/cgiarorg/2024/04/Tiksa-Negeri-Reuters-640x428.png)