Banana+Bunch+Top+Virus

**Bananas on the Island** There are six plantations of bananas on the Island, with an export price of $993/tonne. These form a significant amount of revenue towards the economy of the Island.
 * WARNING! Banana Bunch Top Virus Detected**

The following grid shows the grid reference and size of each plantation.


 * **Plantation** || **Location** || **Hectares** ||
 * Plantation A || B4 || 90 hectares ||
 * **Plantation B** || C7 || 124 hectares ||
 * Plantation C || C8 || 12 hectares ||
 * **Plantation D** || C5 || 356 hectares ||
 * Plantation E || B6 || 486 hectares ||
 * **Port Plantation** **(F)** || 2km from the port || 25 hectares ||

The following map depicts the locations of these plantations:

**We need to work out how many bananas there are in one hectare to find out how many bannaas there are in each plantation. **



1 hectare is 100m x 100m which is equivalent to 10,000m2

Each plant is 3m across and 1.5m down therefore: **(Create diagram)**

100m divided by 3m is 33.3

And

100m divded by 1.5m is 66.6

The total amount of bananas in a hectare is: 33.3x66.6= 2218 bannanas in a hectare.

**The amount of banana plans in each plantation: **

C7, 12.4 X 2218 = **27,503 **

C8, 1.2 X 2218 = **2662 **

C5, 35.6 X 2218 = **78,961 **

B6, 48.6 X 2218 = **<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">107,794 **

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">B4, 9 X 2218 = **<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">19,962 **

B4 plantation is the nearest to our settlement which covers 9 hectares of land.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">This table shows the rate at which it will take for all trees to become infested **

Plantation C: C8: 2662 banana trees = 110 days to infect the trees Plantation A: B4: 19962 banana trees = 130 days to infect the trees Plantation B: C7:27503 banana trees = 130 days to infect the trees Plantation D: C5: 78961 banana trees = 150 days to infect the trees Plantation E: B6: 107794 banana trees = 150 days to infect the trees
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Days || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Fomula || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Bananas Infected ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">O || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1x1 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">20 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1x2 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">2 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">40 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">2x3 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">6 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">60 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">6x4 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">24 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">80 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">24x5 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">120 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">100 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">120x6 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">720 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">120 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">720x7 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">5040 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">140 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">5040x8 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">40320 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">160 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">40320x9 || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">362880 ||



**What will be the impact on the Economy of the Island?**

The economy of our island will be severely impacted by the loss of bananas.

Some things that will be affected include:

__Trade and export:__ Bananas are a major form of income which comes from trade with surrounding territories.

__Unemployment__: With no bananas to harvest and sell, there will be many people out of work in the settlements.

__Higher Crime Rates:__ With many people out of work, crime levels will increase as people attempt to find a sufficient form of income. This may also mean that anyone who has bananas will be looted as they are scarce.

__Less Available Products__: People relying on banana products for their every day needs will be disadvantaged as they will have no access to the appropriate goods. For example, banana as a medicinal ingredient will become scarce.

__Social Unres__t: The people in the settlements will become unhappy and this will lead to social unrest. This can include protests, riots, raids and more. A higher depression and mental illness rate will also become prominent amongst the wider society.

__ **Ecologist Questions** __

<span style="background-color: #ff8700; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">**Banana Bunch Top Virus** **What is it?** Banana Bunchy Top Virus is one of the worst plant diseases known to bananas. Small plant lice called Aphids infest the plant and spread quickly. It's fast spread is not only due to the Aphids fast paced expansion, but also due to exportation by humans of infested plants.

** How can we tell is a plant is infected? **  The bananas are deformed/abnormally ﻿sized. Dark green streaks are visible on the leaves of the plant. Aphids can be seen on the plant, under the leaves. **Who needs to be told about this threat? What will you tell them? How will you tell them?**

As there are many stakeholders in the Island's banana industry, it is important that the spread of this virus is communicated to all necessary parties.

The following report states who will be informed/contacted in regards to the spread of the Banana Bunch Top Virus, what information will be shared and how this will be communicated to them.

__** Government Bodies: **__

What: The government will be spoken to by the head of government, who will announce that there is an Banana Bunch Top Virus epidemic on the island. The extent of this epidemic will be stated, how much money it will cost the economy, the implications to society such as job losses and what will need to be done. This is all confidential information, to be kept within the government. The information to be released will be given to all government representatives, so that no information is leaked and citizens are kept at ease.

Why: The government will play a vital role in communicating with everyone therefore it is important that they are all clear on the situation, what is to be communicated to who and when.

How: The government will hold a emergency meeting, in which all members will be expected to attend.

__** Citizens: **__

**What**: The citizens of the settlements will be contacted and told that there is a //controlled// infestation of //some// banana crops on the Island. They will be asked to report any new infestations that they may see to the government and to remain calm as the situation will be cleared in good time.

**Why**: Little information will be given, to ensure that mass hysteria is not created. This information will be shared so that citizens do not eat bananas which are infested, can report any newly infested crops and can prepare themselves for life without the crop. By sugar-coating the ad campaign, we can help to relieve the stress which many people will feel as a result of the infestation.

**How**: An influential public figure (likely to be head of government) will star in an advertising campaign which relays this information in a friendly and fun way. These advertisements will include newspaper adverts, brochures being put in letter boxes, television and radio campaign and mandatory public meetings being held by each settlements government representative, where brochures will also be released.

__ **Surrounding Countries** __

**What**: Surrounding countries which are involved in trade deals with the Island must be contacted and all export of bananas must be halted. They will be told that this is for an indefinite time and all other trade deals are still to take place. If infected plants are imported, they will carry the virus on to the destination country.

**Why**: The relationship our Island has with it's neighbours is a trusting and equal one. It is important to tell them that their shipments will be stopped as early as possible, in order to keep this relationship fair and strong. Other deals will stay as they are, and the other countries may offer aid as they depend on our banana exportation.

**How**: Other countries will be informed via important Government radio signals sent out. There will also be international advertising campaigns to inform the people who enjoy our Islands bananas that they can donate to the cleanup, in order to have new bananas.


 * __ Farmers and Agricultural Scientists __**

What: Farmers and Agricultural scientists are the most educated and experienced people in relation to plantations. Informing them that there is an epidemic and asking for their assistance in fighting it.

Why: In order to be able to enclose and remove all spread of the virus, farmers and agricultural scientists will need to be on board to assist in the technical processes.

How: Releasing important confidential letters to the homes of known farmers and agricultural scientists, outlining the issue and inviting them to an emergency meeting. Holding an emergency meeting, where they will be addressed by Government.


 * How can we contain this outbreak? **

As Banana Bunch Top Virus is a complex plant disease which is hard to control, we will be trying various methods of control. These will be lead by our team of Ecologists, Farmers, Agriculturual Scientists and Volunteers.

The following methods will be used in an attempt to contain the outbreak:

- **Pesticides**: By spraying pesticides on the infected plants, we can kill a majority of Aphids and slow their spread. This is harmful for the environment but is strong enough to successfully slow the spread.

**- Removing unaffected plants:** Removing unaffected plants from the open area and placing them in restricted areas can stop the virus from spreading to them. Having an enclosed area which is not accessible for the aphids. This will also be beneficial for creating new plantations, as affected plants should not be replanted after they are treated.

**- Destroying all affected plants:** All plants which are affected by the virus must be safely removed and destroyed. This is a precaution which will ensure no affected plantation is moved across to unharmed areas. It is also to ensure all harmed areas are cleared.