Ghana: GAEC secures funding from IAEA to develop disease-tolerant cassava

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has approved €40,240 funding for the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to produce cassava varieties that are tolerant to the Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD). CBSD is caused by the Cassava Brown Streak Virus (CBSV) and Ugandan Cassava Brown Streak Virus (UCBSV), and reports of its occurrence in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo indicate that the virus is spreading towards the West Africa region which hitherto was considered as CBSD-free. The lead researcher on the project, Dr. Wilfred Elegba, who is a Research Scientist at BNARI, made these remarks in an interview and noted that the project would help develop varieties tolerant to CBSD to prevent pandemics in West Africa. "Cassava is an important staple crop that provides food and income for about 700 million Africans. However, its production in sub-Saharan Africa is severely constrained ...