FHIA-03 or Bahati (Local Name):

Type of material: Hybrid

ITC number: 0506

Tolerance to pests and diseases:

The variety is generally tolerant to weevils although several cases of plants attacked have been recorded. It seems to be resistant to nematodes until now and is only slightly affected by Sigatoka. FHIA-03 was considered as resistant to Fusarium Wilt race 1 when first introduced in the region in 1995. Nevertheless, after some years, it has shown many cases of attacks by Fusarium Wilt race 1. Results from Australia and more recently the 2000 annual INIBAP report indicate that FHIA-03 is susceptible to FW race 1.


General acceptance and performance:

Farmers consider FHIA-03 as a very vigorous and strong plant resistant to drought and wind. It is mostly accepted for cooking and roasting. It is considered as the best cooking type among the FHIA-01, FHIA-02 and FHIA-03. Although FHIA-03 has been very quickly adopted because of its good yield and farmers still want to plant this variety, advise is actually given to turn to other varieties that are more resistant to FW race 1, a major disease in this part of Africa.

The average bunch weight for the Kagera region is 18 Kg, with a minimum and maximum recorded weight of 3 Kg and 58 Kg, respectively (see graph - 479 bunches harvested).


Direct and indirect diffusion:

FHIA-03 has been introduced for the first time by ARI-Maruku (Agricultural Research Institute) in 1995 in the Kagera region. In 1997, KCDP started multiplying this variety. A total of 9,665 in-vitro plants have been received from KULeuven between 1997 and 1999. Currently, the variety is being replaced by more promising varieties. 34,136 plants have been directly diffused and 109,690 plants have been indirectly diffused so far on the hypothesis that one plant produces 2 suckers every year. This brings the possible total diffusion of FHIA-03 to143,826 plants by December 2001.