Embrapa launches new variety of cassava resistant to main crop diseases

Cassava production in the Amazon gains a new technological boost. Embrapa Western Amazon officially launched BRS Jacundá, a variety developed specifically for the state's conditions, with superior productivity, resistance to diseases, and yellow pulp, ideal for flour, tucupi, and other traditional products of the region. Present for thousands of years in the daily life of the Amazon people, cassava sustains the food, income, and culture of countless families. But despite its importance, the production chain faces historical challenges, such as low productivity, pests, diseases, and difficulty accessing quality seedlings. The BRS Jacundá cultivar arrives precisely to face these bottlenecks and offer a more efficient alternative to the rural producer. The new cultivar is the result of two decades of studies and genetic improvement. According to researcher Ferdinando Barreto, Jacundá went through several evaluation stages until it was considered suitable for recommendation to farmers ...