Fighting cassava’s deadliest enemies in western Kenya

Cassava production in western Kenya is being threatened by an army of pests and diseases that could decimate harvests. This starchy crop-the second most important in Kenya's western and coastal regions, after maize-feeds over 500 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, and the challenge from these threats could have devastating consequences for food security in the region. But, new research offers hope for both farmers and consumers.

In a recent study titled "Occurrence and Distribution of Major Cassava Pests and Diseases in Cultivated Cassava Varieties in Western Kenya," scientists from IITA and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute (KALRO) conducted field surveys across six major cassava-producing counties to understand how two devastating diseases-Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD)-and pests like whiteflies and cassava green mites (CGM) are affecting cassava production. Their discoveries highlight both the challenges and potential solutions to these "invisible" enemies.

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