The cassava brown streak virus is devastating cassava plantations in Zambia. Authorities in Zambia are working to contain a damaging outbreak of this root rot disease, that could lead to shortages of a key food staple. Over the past few years, root rot or cassava brown streak virus disease (CBSD) has affected north-eastern Zambia (Luapula Province) near the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Recently, it spread to the north-western parts of Zambia, which adjoin the border with Angola and Namibia. The disease outbreak threatens food security for more than five million people, according to local authorities. It is being fuelled by the cassava mosaic virus (CMV) which is transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and primarily infects cassava plants.
Source: farmtech-africa.com