FAO supports Viet Nam in controlling Panama disease

Failure to control Panama disease threatens competitive edge in banana exports

Banana Fusarium Wilt, caused by the Fusarium oxysporum fungus Tropical Race 4 (TR4), also known as “Panama disease”, has become the greatest threat to the global banana industry. In Viet Nam, the disease has already appeared in many key banana-growing regions and is spreading rapidly.

In response to this risk, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has approved the project “Emergency Support for the Control and Management of Banana Fusarium Wilt (Tropical Race 4 - TR4) in Vietnam,” with funding of USD 120,968 (approximately VND 3.2 billion) from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project’s inception workshop was held on the morning of October 28 in Hanoi.

Mr. Nguyen Quy Duong, Deputy Director of the Plant Production and Protection Department, the lead agency of the project, shared that Vietnam currently has over 157,000 hectares of banana plantations, producing approximately 2.3 million tons per year. Surveys by the Department show that the TR4 strain has appeared in 6 out of 12 sampled localities, including Tay Ninh, Long An, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Hanoi, and Hung Yen.

The disease can persist in the soil for decades and spreads through irrigation water, contaminated soil, planting materials, and farming tools. Once a plantation is infected, yields can drop by 70–100%, making recovery nearly impossible.

“The danger is that there is no specific treatment for the fungus, and it can spread through water and agricultural transport. Given Viet Nam’s ecological conditions, if not controlled in time, TR4 could spread to major growing regions in the Central and Southwest regions,” Mr. Duong warned.

Vietnam currently exports bananas to more than 10 markets, with China, South Korea, and Japan being the main destinations. “Failing to control TR4 effectively means we will gradually lose our competitive edge in the banana export value chain. Premium markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU all require certified disease-free growing areas, traceability, and safe production,” Deputy Director General Nguyen Quy Duong emphasized.

Proactive disease prevention lays the foundation for sustainable banana development

The aid funding of over USD 120,000 (approximately VND 3.2 billion) will be directly managed by FAO. The Department of Plant Production and Protection is responsible for leading and coordinating the project’s implementation. The project is also linked to national programs on Integrated Plant Health Management (IPHM) and the production of biological plant protection products through 2030.

According to Mr. Duong, FAO has supported Vietnam in implementing the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program since 1992 and is now expanding to the IPHM model - integrated plant health management that incorporates biological, environmental, and community factors.

“This project is not just a reactive measure against the disease; it is also an opportunity to transition to ecological agriculture, reduce dependence on chemicals, and protect both soil and human health,” he explained.

The project focuses on five main outputs. First, establishing a TR4 monitoring and early warning system, with 300 samples collected, analyzed, and mapped to show the national distribution of the disease, alongside a network of technicians trained in key banana-growing regions.

Second, enhancing diagnostic capacity using PCR and LAMP techniques, forming a team of experts and 20 laboratory staff capable of early detection, accurate diagnosis, and reporting according to international standards.

Third, selecting 1-2 banana varieties resistant or tolerant to TR4 through evaluation of local and imported genetic resources, providing a scientific basis for breeding and scaling up in production.

Fourth, identifying antagonistic microbial strains against TR4, developing screening, evaluation, and application protocols for biological control to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

Fifth, developing protocols for producing disease-free banana seedlings through tissue culture, while issuing sustainable TR4 management guidelines tailored to Viet Nam’s conditions to facilitate local adoption and scaling.

Upon completion, the project will deliver a set of TR4 management protocols, a catalog of resistant banana varieties, disease-free tissue culture procedures, and a collection of tested antagonistic microorganisms ready for application in production. These results will not only support plant protection efforts but also promote the development of a sustainable banana value chain, helping to increase farmers’ incomes and stabilize exports.

“This is the first time Viet Nam has implemented a project to investigate, monitor, and manage TR4 according to international standards, integrating epidemiological mapping, resistant varieties, and antagonistic microorganisms,” emphasized Mr. Duong. The project will lay the foundation for localities to proactively respond to the disease, enhance biological control capacity among technical staff, and potentially expand biological pest management methods to other crops, ensuring farmers’ livelihoods and food security.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Deputy Director of the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, the agency directly implementing the technical aspects, affirmed that the Institute will closely coordinate with the Department of Plant Production and Protection, FAO, and other relevant units to ensure the timely and quality execution of each project component.

“This project is not only aimed at immediate disease control but also lays the foundation for Vietnam’s banana industry to develop sustainably, proactively managing pests through science and technology,” he said.

The project “Emergency Support for the Control and Management of Banana Fusarium Wilt (Tropical Race 4 - TR4) in Viet Nam” runs from September 2025 to May 2026 and is being implemented in 15 provinces and cities, from Hanoi, Hung Yen, Lao Cai, and Lai Chau to Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Can Tho, and Ca Mau. Its objectives are to reduce TR4-infected areas by 40%, establish sustainable disease management protocols, and identify 1-2 disease-resistant banana varieties along with at least one effective antagonistic microorganism strain.