Scientists to develop resilient cassava varieties, for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
Cassava, a staple food for over 800 million people in the tropical regions has not disappointed the consumers in times of hardships including war, extreme climate conditions and others
KAMPALA, October 25, 2025 — In a collaborative effort to combat cassava whitefly pests, research institutions, agricultural innovators and scientists have decided to develop resilient cassava varieties as a measure to improve food security for millions of households in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Cassava, a staple food for over 800 million people in the tropical regions has not disappointed the consumers in times of hardships including war, extreme climate conditions and others.
The efforts to develop several resilient cassava varieties are hinged on the extremely changing climate patterns that have exacerbated the emergency of different pests and diseases, shorter plant-supporting seasons among others. The agricultural researchers are compelled to develop varieties with resilience and early maturing.
Cassava is one of the crops widely consumed by the world population, only next to corn and wheat, making it one of the priority crops, especially given its high survival rates in the face of climate change.
With support from international conglomerates engaged in financing science, researchers especially in the tropical regions have drawn multiple efforts together for solutions to pests and diseases that threaten the crop.
The major threat to cassava is caused by Whiteflies which spread two viral diseases, cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease of which the latter can cause total yield loss, placing smallholder farmers who rely on cassava for their income and food security in a precarious situation.
Available research indicates that about 60 percent of cassava consumed in Sub-Saharan Africa is produced by smallholder farmers, who are susceptible to great loss.
Scientists and practitioners in the field emphasise the importance of finding effective and sustainable solutions to combat this growing threat.
“Research has also shown that traditional control methods for cassava whitefly have often proven to be limited in their effectiveness, costly, or detrimental to the environment,” said Dr. Gilbert Anyang, an investigator at the National Crops Resources Research Institute [NaCRRI].
The Director for Research at NaCRRI, Dr. Titus Alicai says cassava is a cornerstone of resilience across Africa and other tropical regions. It is also the second most produced and consumed staple food after bananas in Uganda.
“Its ability to thrive in poor soils and withstand drought makes it a lifeline and a critical insurance crop for millions. Cassava faces growing threats from pests like the cassava whitefly, which damages crops directly and spreads viral diseases that can wipe out yields. By advancing innovative solutions to protect cassava, we can help safeguard food security and livelihoods across the continent,” Alicai said during a collaborative engagement at Kawanda, Wakiso district.
Whiteflies are highly prevalent in certain regions of Africa like the Eastern and southern Africa, including the horn of Africa, some of the western Africa and it continues to spread into new areas.
The disease feeds directly on the phloem sap of cassava leaves, depleting the plant’s nutrients and excreting honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold on the leaves which interferes with photosynthesis, further weakening the plant.
It is estimated that in Africa, more than 40 percent of population rely on cassava as a source of calories, while the crop also serves as a famine-reserve crop with roots that can stay underground for years until needed to sustain people during times of scarcity especially during climate challenges.
The project seeks to ensure that smallholder farmers like Ekodel will have access to new agricultural innovations.
Partnering with the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO], is the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Tech Transfer Company and researchers from the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich.
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