By George Emuron
BUKEDEA
Cassava farmers in Bukedea District are counting losses as cassava brown streak disease attacks most of the gardens.
The disease was confirmed in the three sub counties of Kabarwa, Malera and Bukedea Town Council.
About 8,000 gardens are affected, authorities said.
Mr. Cyprian Paul Opolot, the Bukedea District Senior Agricultural Officer told this publication that the disease covers the entire district and its being spread by flies.
“Bukedea district has a total of 40,000 gardens of cassava and about 8,000 gardens are affected contributing to 20% rate”, said Mr. Opolot.
He remarked that the fast spread of the disease is caused by the farmers themselves.
“Our farmers also have a mentality of sourcing sick cassava cuttings from one garden to another,” Opolot added.
Mr. Ben Angura, the Kabarwa sub county chairperson Wednesday 11th, Sept 2024 said the outbreak of the cassava disease has made farmers in his sub county to boycott cassava growing.
He said this has indicated the food insecurity threats since most of the farmers depend on cassava as their staple food stuff.
“I am scared of food insecurity in the sub county since most of the farmers have lost interest in growing cassava”, said Mr. Angura.
However, cassava being Teso stable food stuff, its prices have also dropped.
Mr. Jude Ongota, the Bukedea District Principal Agricultural Officer says the district has purchased a new variety of cassava cuttings in order to support farmers with good quality seeds.
“We discovered that the outbreak of the disease is due to lack of access to good quality seeds, so buying new cassava cutting varieties will help,” said Mr. Ongota.
Ongota further added that the district has established two demo gardens of new cassava cuttings in each sub county.
“Besides purchasing new Narocast one cassava cutting, we have also engaged farmers in community meetings to sensitize them on prevention of the disease,” Ogota added.
Moses Omutoj one of the cassava growing farmers in Okunguro parents ward in Bukedea Town Council said the disease has attacked cassava in a wrong season.
“I have more than six gardens of cassava ready but the disease has attacked, no space for drying in this second rain and even the price is low”, said Omutoj.
Omutoj appealed to the government to source other alternatives of helping farmers to boost the market of cassava.
