CRI embarks on project to prevent cassava epidemic from spreading into Ghana

The Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) in  Kumasi has embarked on a field investigation and sensitisation project to prevent a cassava epidemic which has emerged in East African countries from spreading to Ghana.

The viral disease known as Cassava Brown Streak is reported to have caused havoc in Uganda, Tanzania and other East African countries and when not checked could ruin the economic livelihood of many farmers in the country.

The disease attacks  the leaves, stem and roots of crops such as cassava.

Prevention

To prevent the further spread of the disease, a West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) for Root and Tuber Crops Project has  taken off in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote I’Voire respectively.It was jointly sponsored by the Department of International Development (DFID) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The five regions earmarked for the project in Ghana are the Volta, Ashanti, Central, Western and Brong Ahafo .

Participants

In all, 70 participants comprising 50 farmers and 20 agricultural extension officers drawn from Ketu North, Ketu South, Akatsi North, Akatsi South and South Tongu districts attended the field day.

The West African  Virus Epidemiology for Root and Tuber Crops Project is three year project. The $7million project is jointly funded by the DFID and Bill Melinda Gates Foundation aimed at stemming the tide on the cassava epidemic which had taken a toll on some East African countries.

Field day 

Interacting with selected farmers on a field day at Akatsi, a plant virologist and breeder of CRI, Dr Allen Oppong said the devastative effect of the disease was enormous because it affected the roots, and therefore asked farmers to be vigilant and guard against the spread of the disease.

He said some varieties of cassava were highly resistant to diseases than others for which reason Dr. Oppong therefore advised farmers to go for the high resistant species and also inspect their farms regularly to protect their crops from any infection.

Threat

Dr  Joe Manu-Aduening, who delivered a lecture on the importance of cassava and the need to adopt improved varieties said, emerging diseases on cassava posed a threat to livelihood and that unlike the African cassava mosaic disease which was endemic, the new infection was more devastating as it affected the leaves, stem and roots of crops.