Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a US-based research institute, is working with Rwanda to develop cassava varieties resistant to Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD). The disease has caused significant losses in the country's cassava production, with improved varieties showing sustained resistance in field trials spanning about 10 years. ALSO READ: New cassava, potato varieties await final approval before distribution So far, new cassava varieties developed through a partnership between Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have demonstrated sustained resistance to Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), raising hopes of reducing crop losses among farmers. The varieties have maintained their resistance during 10 years of field testing in Rwanda, according to Giles Oldroyd, President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, who visited the fields on November 11. Oldroyd visited the field trials led by RAB to assess the performance of the improved cassava varieties developed jointly by the two institutions. In a LinkedIn post, he said the disease, caused by two different viruses, had severely affected cassava production in East Africa, with Rwanda experiencing a 73 per cent decline in cassava yields. He described the findings as a significant breakthrough for smallholder farmers, who depend on cassava as an important source of food and income. ALSO READ: Rwanda nears release of first biotech crops “ The lines we have developed in partnership with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board show absolute resistance to this devastating disease. This has now been tested for over 10 years in the field and we still see the resistance holding up,” he said. He said the next priority was to increase the availability of the improved planting materials to enable their release to millions of farmers who could benefit from the varieties. Cassava is an important food crop in Rwanda, where both its roots and leaves are consumed. The crop is also valued for its ability to withstand heat and drought and grow in soils with low nutrient levels, making it particularly important for farmers facing climate-related challenges. However, the disease has been presenting a major challenge because farmers may not recognise that their crops are infected until harvest. According to Oldroyd, the disease can damage the roots without showing obvious signs on the plant's shoots, meaning farmers may only discover the losses after growing the crop for about a year and harvesting it. He said this creates serious food security risks for resource-constrained households that rely on cassava for their meals. ALSO READ: What $10m agri-biotech programme means for Rwanda He commended Nigel Taylor and Athanase Nduwumuremyi, crop scientists, for their contribution to developing the disease-resistant varieties, describing the work as groundbreaking for smallholder farmers. He called for support to scale up the improved planting materials ahead of their release to farmers. Athanase Nduwumuremyi, Head of the Roots and Tubers Programme, guided the visitors through the ongoing cassava trials, highlighting biotech varieties being developed to address diseases that constrain cassava productivity and improve overall production. Solange Uwituze, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) commended the contribution by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
