Meta-analysis of agroecological technologies and practices in the sustainable management of banana pests and diseases

Diseases and pests are a growing threat to small and large banana farmers and can cause catastrophic losses. Diseases affect all parts of the plant and are caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses. Although their impact is generally less devastating, pests, mainly insects and nematodes, are also significant factors. For better management of these diseases and pests, several technologies and or agroecological practices are often used by small farmers but are not often known or disseminated. Here, we did a meta-analysis combined with a review to describe banana diseases and pests as well as agroecological methods for their management. On the basis of the meta-analysis, 11 main bananas pests and diseases have been identified. Depending on the importance of their management by agroecological methods, Mycosphaerella fijiensis was most studied here (Z-value = 0.48), followed by the nematodes Radopholus similis (Z-value = 0.32) and Helicotylenchus multicinctus (Z-value = 0.32). The insect pests Erionota thrax (Z-value = 0.28), Cosmopolites sordidus (Z-value = 0.23) and Polytus mellerborgi (Z-value = 0.22) were also widely studied. Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) was moderately studied (Z-value = 0.26). There was a significant positive response of pest and disease to agroecological practices / technologies. Agricultural technologies involving the use of predators to control pests and the use of biopesticides were the most demonstrated in studies. This study made it possible to make a synthesis of the agroecological technologies and practices used to be disseminated for the bananas production by small farmers.