US$200,000 CASSAVA TECH. PROJECT ELATES DSaT

US$200,000 CASSAVA TECHNICAL PROJECT ELATES DSaT



By Alfonso Kasongo  
Government with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has launched USD 200,000 Cassava technical coorperation project aimed at mitigating the spread of Cassava Brown Streak (CBSD) and Mosaic disease in Luapula and Northern provinces of Zambia.
The investment has elated Dziwa Science and Technology Trust (DSaT), a Zambian NGO promoting science communication and science based solutions to address country's socio-economic challenges. 
Early last year, DSaT in collaboration with Zambia Agriculture Research Institute ZARI, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Media and Information, supported by the Centre of Agriculture and Bioscience International  CABI facilitated a media training on Cassava Brown Streak Disease reporting where over 30 journalists drawn from across the country received the training. 
The aim of the training was to equip journalists with knowledge on the CBSD so that they can effectively report on the disease as it  posed a huge threat on food security especially that the cash crop is considered as staple food in most affected areas of the country. 
And speaking during the training, Chief Agriculture Researcher at ZARI 
Dr. Chikoti  said about 30% of the population, mostly subsistence farmers, depend on cassava as a staple crop and as a source of income. 
Dr. Chikoti observed that Zambia remains vulnerable to the disease and that it requires urgent attention because of its high transmission and high yield crop yield reduction rates.
In view of this vulnerability, Dr. Chikoti disclosed that ZARI has conducted a number of researches on CBSD since its first recorded in 2017 in Kaputa and Chiyengi districts in Luapula province bordering with Democratic Republic of Congo which reported had confirmed reports of the disease in 2011.
And  Dr. Rabson Mulenga, Principal Agriculture Officer at ZARI explained that CBSD is caused by two viruses namely Cassava Brown Streak Virus (CBSV) which is more devastating because of its changing gene form or mutation characteristic. 
Dr. Rabson Mulenga, Principal Agriculture Officer at ZARI giving more insights on CBSD in the institutional Cassava field 

The other which is present in Zambia is Uganda Cassava Brown Streak Virus (UCBSV).
Dr. Mulenga both Viruses can be on one plant the situation that has the potential to trigger higher diseases transmission and crop loss.
Dr. Mulenga added that if not controlled, the viruses can reduce crop yield upto 100 percent. 
Ms. Mwaba and Journalists listening to the explanation from the researcher (not in picture) during media training on CBSD at ZARI,last year-picture by Alfonso Kasongo 



Organisation Executive Director and found Veronica Mwaba has therefore reminded the media ...."your efforts were not in vain. Just look at this incase you missed it!  For me, job satisfaction ni fulu fulu - What a great feedback! "
Ms. Mwaba has since  congratulated all key stakeholders in the US$200,000 technical cooperating  project. 

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