Cassava farmers advised to switch other varieties

CEBU, Philippines - Cassava farmers in Central Visayas may consider shifting to other varieties apart from the KU 50 and Rayong 5 varieties.

This, after the demonstration farm conducted in Camotes, Cebu, recently reported to have been infected with the witch’s broom disease, a disease that is carried by various hosts such as fungi, insects, mites, nematodes, phytoplasms and viruses.

Albert Castillo, chief of the Regional Crop Protection Center of the Department of Agriculture, said the disease could wipe out an entire cassava plantation if left unattended.

The disease is carried by various hosts such as fungi, insects, mites, nematodes, phytoplasms and viruses.

Edna Yu, the Regional Cassava Program coordinator, confirmed that at least one percent of the trial farm in Bohol had been infected.

Yu said that the disease could have infected the entire farm had the infestation started in the early planting stage.

Researchers from the Bohol Experiment Station opined that these two varieties from Thailand are among the most preferred because of their relatively higher yield.

Castillo said that contributory to the proliferation of the disease are the intermittent rains and erratic weather condition in the country.

But Castillo said the disease can be prevented by soaking the planting materials in antibiotic for 10 minutes.

The witch’s broom disease stunts the plants, discolors the leaves and disfigures the stems by growing a dense mass of shoots from a single point which results in a structure resembling a broom.

It is noted that Region 7 contributes more than 70,000 metric ton or 3.4 % of the country’s total production covering almost 7,000 hectares. Cebu ranks second to Bohol in Central Visayas’ cassava production.

Other high-yielding varieties recommended in the region are UPL Ca3 (Sultan1), VC-1 (CMC323-52), PSBCV10, NSIC CV35 and NSIC CV40. – (FREEMAN)