TARI Maruku releases nine improved cassava varieties

FARMERS in Kagera region have a reason to smile after the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI-Maruku) released nine improved cassava varieties which are resistant to the cassava brown streak disease (CBSD).

Ms  Jojianas  Kibura, Senior Researcher at   TARI-Maruku listed the varieties including TARICAS 1, 2,3,4,5, Mkumba, Mkuranga 1, Kiroba and  Chereko.

“These varieties are tolerant to various combinations of major cassava production constraints which include cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), which is caused by cassava brown streak ipomoviruses (CBSIs).

The disease has become the most debilitating biotic stress to cassava production in East and Central Africa. Lack of CBSD-resistant varieties has necessitated the search for alternative control measures,” she said.

Elaborating, she said most smallholder farmers re-use stems from previous crops for planting in the new season.

She said recycling planting material in this way can lead to ‘degeneration’ owing to the impounding effects of disease.

Cassava brown streak disease is a major constraint for smallholders in East and Central Africa, where new outbreaks have been reported in the past two decades.

Caused by viruses that are spread by infected planting materials and sap- sucking white flies, CBSD can destroy a significant portion of a farmer’s cassava production.

Mr Jasson Kalinguliza (65), a resident of Muleba District’s Kishanda Village explained that for many decades farmers in Kagera Region depended on bananas as their main food crop.

“However, banana production has declined over the past decades due to pests, diseases and declining soil fertility. The introduction of improved cassava varieties will greatly improve food security in the region,” he remarked.