Kenya has banned the movement of banana seedlings in its western states following an outbreak of xanthomonas wilt disease in Uganda, newspaper Nairobi Star reported.

Agriculture ministry officials have advised farmers in Ugenya, Ugunja, Busia, Siaya, Gem and Kisumu West districts -which border Uganda - not to move seedlings to neighboring districts to contain the spread of the disease.

Ugenya district agricultural officer Seline Bonyo, said she had imposed strict quarantine on the movement of banana planting seedlings out of Siaya county, to prevent the disease from spreading to other regions.

"We have managed to establish bulking farms in selected centers where farmers will obtain disease free banana planting materials as a measure to prevent the spread of the disease," she was quoted as saying.

She pointed out that plans are underway to establish a farmers' field site at Got Nanga area in the district.

"Got Nanga is such a strategic point for the farmers across Ugenya District to learn how to contain the spread of the disease," she said.

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