Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri says it is unfortunate that Cassava, the second staple food in the country continue to be threatened by the threats posed by Cassava Brown Streak Disease(CBSD)
In a speech read on his behalf by Acting Planning Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Oscar Chita at the Media, Researchers Dialogue in Lusaka , Mr Phiri says the threats posed by Cassava Brown Streak Disease cannot be over stated.
Mr Phiri states that it is unfortunate that the surge of interest in the Cassava Subsector coincide with the emergency of invasive Cassava Brown Streak Disease.
The Agriculture Minister says recent Government intervention from the most affected areas including Kaputa and Chiengi in Luapula and Northern provinces respectively attest to the devastating effect of Cassava Brown Streak Disease.
He said the role the media was playing in providing information on CBSD cannot be overemphasised.
“My Government is pleased to note that Zambia media are a great partner in information dissemination.
“Some of you had an opportunity to participate in the training to create awareness on the spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease,” he recalled.
And Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) Southern Africa Regional Director Noah Phiri says the organisation leverages on evidence-based science to inform practices and policies that contribute to food, nutritional and environmental security across the globe.
Speaking on his behalf by CABI representative Dr Chapwa Kasoma, Dr Phiri said science with a human face entails research that was tailored to addressing challenges.
He said in agriculture, challenges were associated with many abiotic and biotic stresses and various socio-economic problems encountered by farmers and their support system.
“…The Cassava Brown Streak Disease is one such challenge that cassava farmers were grappling with especially in the traditional growing region of the crop,” he said.
Dr Phiri added: ” As a reminder, cassava is Zambia’s second most important staple crop after maize and serves as a mainstay for an estimated 30 percent of the population in the provinces of Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, North-Western and Western where it plays a crucial role in food security,” he said.
Dr Phiri said CABI working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute(ZARI), Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services(PQPS) Seed Control and Certification Research(SCCR), Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit(DMMU), Dziwa Science and Technology Trust (DSaT), National Agriculture Information Services(NAIS), farmers and traditional leaders in implementing the CBSD campaign launched in 2021which aims to stimulate national response to CBSD in order to curb its spread and reduce yield loses associated with the disease.
He said in implementing the CBSD campaign, credible science continually proves to be a very critical component for success.
“…Thus, the important role of media in correctly communicating scientific messages to elicit relevant action from society cannot be overemphasised,” he said.