By Ntombi Mhlongo
Authorities in Zambia are working to contain a damaging outbreak of root rot disease that could lead to shortages of a key food staple for the majority of households in the country.
According to the Farmers Weekly, over the past few years, root rot or cassava brown streak virus disease (CBSD) has affected north-eastern Zambia (Luapula Province) near the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Recently, it was reported, it spread to the north-western parts of Zambia, which adjoin the border with Angola and Namibia.
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“The disease outbreak threatens food security for more than five million people, according to local authorities. It is being fuelled by the cassava mosaic virus (CMV) which is transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and primarily infects cassava plants,” the Farmers Weekly reported.
It highlighted that because cassava is vegetatively propagated, it is particularly vulnerable to viruses.
The Zambian authorities are said to be seriously concerned with the escalating cases of the disease, which has affected more than 10 000ha, leaving many households under threat of hunger after the 2022/23 season.
“Most of our farmers have lost out because much of the crop is rotting and will not be harvested this year, and that means they will need relief food,” a government official was quoted as having said.
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Zambia National Cassava Association Chairperson Brighton Mulongo was quoted saying that the damage done by CBSD spurred on by CMD, not to mention the looming food insecurity, would only be mitigated by collaboration among various players.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other groups are working with the Zambian government to mitigate the spread of CBSD and CMD, starting with districts in Luapula before moving on to other parts of the country.
In addition to it being a food staple, cassava is also used to make ethanol.
However, some critics have raised concerns over the excess use of food crops like cassava for industrial purposes, saying this threatens the region’s food security.
