Solution found for cassava root-rot devastation in Africa
24 April 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 24 April 2007
Solution found for cassava root-rot devastation in Africa
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Scientists of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have developed varieties resistant to Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) in collaboration with their counterparts at the National Agricultural Research Systems in Tanzania .This dreaded root rot-causing disease has been ravaging the cassava belt in the Great Lake region.
The causal pathogen is Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV). The disease causes yield losses in cassava of 20–80%, affecting peoples’ livelihoods all over Eastern Africa. For example, the disease is the most limiting factor in the food security efforts of Tanzania where 40 million people depend on the crop for their daily calorie intake. In economic terms, CBSD causes an annual loss of about US$50 million for the farmers in Tanzania. Dr Caroline Herron, IITA plant pathologist studying the dynamics of the virus in East Africa, says “In the last five years, CBSD has also been observed in Kenya, Ug anda, Rw anda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique.”
Dr Edward Kanju, IITA cassava plant breeder, and Mr Haji Saleh, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Kizimbani, Zanzibar, say that “The farmers involved in the participatory breeding project “drove” the government to officially release the CBSD field-resistant cultivars. The challenge is now to replace the susceptible plants with the newly released resistant varieties.”
New Scientist in its current issue (21 April 2007, no:2600) features a detailed story about “Africa’s cassava comeback” providing further background information about the problem of this devastating disease and the solution.
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For further details contact:
Mr Taye Babaleye, Public Relations Manager, t.babaleye@cgiar.org
Dr Caroline Herron, Plant Pathologist, c.herron@cgiar.org
