Crop scientists from six cassava-growing West African countries are collaborating in efforts to fight viral diseases in root and tuber crops.

Virologists were drawn from Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Ghana.

Under a special project known as West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), the experts seek to understand and predict root emergence and spread of crop viruses in the sub-region, with emphasis on cassava.

Director of Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. Stella Ama Ennin, says such proactive measures are required to enhance food security.

“These crops are a major food security component of our cropping system,” she said.

However, the demand for cassava and other root and tuber crops still exceed supply, because much of the potential yield is lost through pest and disease attacks in production and during post harvest.

It is estimated that the cassava mosaic disease alone can cause annually 24 per cent yield reduction which is equivalent to 28 million tons in Africa.

“Cassava for instance, production is greatly affected by viral diseases among which is the cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak disease, each of which can cause yield losses of up to 100%,” Dr. Ennin stated.

West Africa produces about 31 per cent of the world’s cassava, over 90 per cent of yam and 18 per cent of sweet potato.

They are major food security crops for both subsistence and commercial purposes, besides being sources of dietary energy for both low-income rural and urban dwellers.

The future of these crops, especially cassava, is however threatened by the Cassava Brown Streak disease, known to have destroyed large cassava fields.

East Africa has suffered severe food shortage and famine due to devastation caused by the deadly disease.

The Cassava Brown Streak disease in the 1990s, wiped out all the cassava in for example Uganda and Tanzania; and they have had to produce new varieties to replace the lost ones.

The scientists indicated “it is a national security issue when it comes to the effect and impact of such viral diseases as we have seen in some East African countries.”

Dr. Ama Ennin has therefore emphasized the importance of the collaboration at the launch of the WAVE initiative for root and tuber crops.

“West Africa and for that matter Ghana cannot wait to experience such widespread and catastrophic effects of plant viral epidemics as have been experienced by neighbours in East Africa,” she said.

The project will develop and equip laboratories, interact with farmers and educate them on how to identify viral diseases.

It will prepare and equip scientists, policy makers, extension officers and other stakeholders along the agric value chain on the need to take preemptive steps to supplement governments’ efforts aimed at protecting its population from food insecurity and famine.

Dr. Justin Pita, WAVE regional coordinator, observed that the West Africa sub-region has few experts in virology, hence the need to join forces to form a strong alliance for the project implementation.

Leaders of the participating countries are optimistic productivity and sustainability of root and tuber crops will be guaranteed.

The Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation is sponsoring the three-year project with 3.5 million dollars.

A supplement fund is expected to help bring on board the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroun due to their proximity to East Africa.