Cassava virus breaks out in Zambia
summary：‘Cassava brown streak virus’ is a plant disease that is characterized by patches of yellow mixed with the normal green color on the leaves of cassava plants....
‘Cassava brown streak virus’ is a plant disease that is characterized by patches of yellow mixed with the normal green color on the leaves of cassava plants.
This Monday, Zambian Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo said official records have confirmed the existence of the virus in seven districts in Luapula and North-Western Provinces. He told reporters at a press briefing that the disease outbreak was a threat to the country’s food security as cassava is the second most important food crop after maize.
The Ministry will need about 5 million Zambian Kwacha ($465,375) to effectively manage and contain the disease, Katambo said. The Ministry has restricted the movement of planting materials from the affected areas, he said, calling on farmers to plant disease-free cassava tubers.
According to africa.cgtn.com, researchers from the Zambian Agricultural Research Institute say that the disease could have originated from neighboring countries.