Regional scientists move to curb cassava pandemic

Following the emergence of Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, scientists the great lakes region have moved to curb down on the root crop pandemic before it gets out of control. The disease seems to be the latest in a series of crop pandemics that have hit the region after the cassava mosaic disease that raided several parts of the region with devastating effects. Now the region’s agro experts have unveiled a surveillance program aimed at cubing the spread of the disease. The programme was announced during agricultural researchers’ assembly organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) held in Dar es Salaam last week. The scientists from the national agricultural research centres of Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and from leading research institutes such as IITA, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the UK’s Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) agreed on a coordinated surveillance strategy. “It was important to critically review the methods proposed for monitoring the major cassava pests and diseases, and to collectively agree on the best way to carry out the annual disease surveys,” James Legg an IITA scientist said. Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) comes after regional farmer’s considerable success in controlling Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) a previous threat to cassava production. “The disease has created a dilemma for us, Cassava Mosaic Disease was a big problem in Uganda but together with our partners, we developed and widely distributed new varieties with good resistance. Cassava production in the country had almost recovered. Then Cassava Brown Streak Disease surfaced, taking us back to square one,” said Chris Omongo from the Ugandan National Agricultural Research Institute (NARO). The Great Lakes Cassava Initiative (GLCI) team revealed that the successful implementation of this work will greatly contribute to safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of cassava-producers in East and Central Africa. Ends