Sigh of relief for farmers as govt begins distributing disease-free cassava variety

The Ministry of agriculture has started distributing disease-free tuber varieties to farmers as a way of saving the struggling cassava sector following the deadly outbreak of Cassava Streak Brown Disease (CSBD). Locally known as ‘Kabore,’ the disease causes poor cassava root (tuber) production and rotting of the tubers, rendering the cassava inedible. It has destroyed cassava plantations across the country, with the most affected districts being Kamonyi, Ruhango and Nyanza. The affected districts are the major producers of cassava in the country. Farmers in the area, many of whom had acquired bank loans to invest in the large-scale growing of cassava, are still struggling to cope with the impact of the disease, while a local cassava processing plant, the multi-million Kinazi Cassava Plant, is struggling to get raw cassava to process. Estimates suggest that over 80 per cent of the total cassava plantations in the three districts have been affected – though there are no available figures on the total cost of the virus. The effects of the outbreak were mainly felt late last year as farmers prepared for the harvest season. The viral disease led to massive mobilisation of top government authorities and promises of support to the affected farmers. Following the outbreak, officials said they were looking for a new disease-free and disease-resistant cassava variety to be grown. Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture started distributing disease-resistant varieties to farmers with hope that the exercise will mark a breakthrough in the fight against the disease and the efforts to keep the production of cassava high. Officials said during the exercise that about 800,000 cassava cuttings will be multiplied in Ruhango, Nyanza and Kamonyi districts on a land of about 80 hectares. The cuttings, which will be planted during this season, are set to generate more disease-free cuttings for extension in the coming years. The Nase14 cassava variety was acquired from Uganda and officials confirmed that lab tests were carried out on it to confirm it was disease-free. Apart from being disease-resistant, the variety is also said to be highly productive. The distribution exercise is ongoing and more cuttings are set to be distributed to other farmers across the country. Optimism While addressing farmers in Ruhango, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Tony Nsanganira, told them that the new varieties are expected to help pick up with the production of cassava – a a major food and commercial crop in the area. “We have done everything we could, we have invested every effort and resource possible in finding a solution to this issue,” he said, referring to the CSBD virus outbreak. “The distribution of this disease-resistant variety is a culmination of the efforts that were made and we believe it will help put back cassava production on the right track.” Ruhango mayor Francois Xavier Mbabazi said the virus outbreak had left a state of anxiety among the affected individuals, with many of them desperate over their future. “But by availing a new variety it comes as a wonderful solution that we have been waiting for. It is a sign that despite the losses farmers have encountered, we can start producing more and recover from the effects of the deadly virus,” Mbabazi said. Farmers said their wait for resistant cassava varieties has finally been rewarded. “At least we can now believe that it is safe to grow cassava and hope to get returns from our investment,” Félicien Simpunga, a farmer, said. While delivering his State of the Nation and End of Year Address last month, President Paul Kagame spoke of the necessity to fight the virus and other crop diseases in order to protect the sector of agriculture, one of the key economic sectors of the country. He said the country was investing in research to prevent the diseases, among the many other measures. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Sigh of relief for farmers as govt begins distributing disease-free cassava variety