Preventing and managing cassava diseases

| October 16, 2017

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This week, we feature two stories about disease-resistant varieties of cassava. Researchers are developing cassava varieties that produce higher yields, tolerate drought, and are less vulnerable to common diseases.

But disease-resistant planting materials can be expensive, and not all farmers will switch to new varieties. Many fields are still at risk for diseases such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease.

This week’s Resource offers sources of information about cassava diseases, how to identify them, their impacts, and recommended prevention and management techniques.

The Guide to Good Crop Protection Practices for Production of Cassava includes information about the most common bacterial, fungal, viral, and pest problems facing cassava farmers. The guide also lists ways to protect crops during field preparation, planting, growth, harvest, and storage. To read the guide, please see: http://pip.coleacp.org/files/documents/GBPP-Manioc%2010-2011-13-1-UK.pdf

Farm Concern International created this training video to demonstrate how to select disease-free planting materials: https://youtu.be/Sca4nzHXrH8

CABI’s Plantwise Knowledge Bank includes factsheets, videos, and pest management guides about a wide variety of plant problems, including cassava diseases. You can search for information about your region, or about a specific crop, at this link: http://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations prepared a booklet called Cassava Diseases in Africa, which includes information about many of the most common diseases in eastern, central, and southern Africa. To read Cassava Diseases in Africa, please see: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/emergencies/docs/CaCESA_Strategic-Programme-Framework_2010-2015.pdf