Wild Banana Species Vanishing Rapidly In India - World's Biggest Producer

[hatrack]

NEW DELHI — Wild banana species are disappearing in India, the world's biggest producer of the fruit, due to shrinking forests and rapid urbanization, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has said.

India is the world's biggest banana grower, with an annual production of 18.52 tons, or more than 20 percent of the total world output of 80.03 tons in 2005, the FAO said in a recent press statement. "But over-exploitation and the loss of forests as a result of encroachment and logging, slash-and-burn cultivation and urbanization are causing a rapid loss of wild banana species that have existed in India for thousands of years," it said.

Bananas are the world's most exported fruit, and the fourth most important food commodity after rice, wheat and maize, the food agency added. India, as the largest producer of the fruit, had contributed significantly to the "global genetic base of bananas," said NeBambi Lutaladio, FAO's agriculture officer.

"But due to ecosystem destruction, it is probable that many valuable gene sources have now been lost," Lutaladio said. "That could cause serious problems because bananas, particularly commercial varieties, have a narrow genetic pool and are highly vulnerable to pests and diseases," he said.

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http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=10410

[spindrifter]

1. But, then there is this bad news for Chimps:

http://www.physorg.com/news5802.html

The Cavendish banana could be wiped out

The Cavendish, the version of the banana that tops most U.S. cereal bowls, is being wiped out by fungus.

Banana plantations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and Taiwan have been destroyed by the fungus, which is spreading through much of Southeast Asia, reports Popular Science.

Experts say the fungus could wipe out Cavendish bananas worldwide.

To save the banana, scientists are trying to genetically alter the Cavendish to make it able to resist the fungus. They are also developing another variety that they hope most consumers would find an acceptable substitute.

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[mainegreen]

2. :) While a threat in asia, growers in americas unlikely to be affected.

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/bananas.asp

[KingM34]

3. Nice Use of Snopes

While this may not be a threat, the increasing homogenization of agriculture means this sort of thing will be more and more of a threat. Not to mention that it makes our food more boring.