Sensitizing Farmers on Cassava brown disease

Mr. David, Agricultural Officer, Nyakiyumbu S/C identifying the infected cassava

Bwera Information Centre (BIC) and Nyakiyumbu Sub county Local Government have launched a campaign against cassava brown disease that has attacked the school garden at Kyaminyawandi Primary School. The Nyakiyumbu Sub county Agricultural Officer Mr. David, tipped the farmers at the School garden on how they can guard against the cassava brown disease. Mr. David demonstrated how the farmers can detect the infected plants, he advised the farmers to immediately uproot the infected cassava plants. While sensitising the farmers and the community in Nyakyimbu, Mr. David challenged the farmers in Bukonzo to take on other food varieties since cassava had for long been infected by strange diseases. The farmers informed Mr. David that for long they had depended on cassava and that was  why they even chose it as a food security at Kyaminyawandi PS for them to learn and multiply the cassava. However, Mr. David, assured the farmers that government was doing the best to restore the cassava variety that was resistant to the cassava brown disease. That Kasese district had identified Nyabirongo Prison Farm, in Kisinga Sub county to multiply the new cassava variety that was supplied by NARO.

The pupils of Kyaminyawandi PS school who attended the sensitization meeting were worried that their school garden had become a hope for them, but unfortunately the cassava brown disease had infected a big part of the garden. The cause of the disease was not was not yet established  but Mr. David told the pupils that cassava brown disease was caused by a virus and had no cure, he likened  it to the Hiv and Aids virus. Mr. David only advised the pupils to be vigilant and agents of change, if they saw any brown cassava in their gardens, the immediate things was to uproot and burn.

Other issues that were discussed were, BBW, swine fever, and coffee. Mr. David, made it clear, that it was the farmers responsibility to inform his office and BIC in case of they saw a strange disease affecting their crops. On swine fever, Mr. David, advised farmers to adopt the Kenya system, that in case of swine fever, all pigs are cleared and a new stock brought in, that because of any surviving pig, it would still carry the virus. He advised farmers to apply the rised pig sty other than ground pig sty. On banana becterial wilt, he advised farmers to cut all the infected plants and leave the garden for a year. However, the farmers could plant other crops like cassava and beans then later replace the bananas with better variety but after consultation with his office or BIC. A program was made to go to Muhindo where BBW had been reported.

Whats next, a parent taking the cassava tubers to the Agric. 

Officer at Kyaminyawandi Primary School

BIC is committed to passing on relevant information to the farmers using all information channels.

Compiled  by:
Janet and Zeverio-
BIC