Whitefly disease outbreak: FG trains 120 cassava farmers  in 3 states

The Federal Government has trained 120 cassava farmers in Ondo, Edo and Ekiti states on how best to combat whitefly disease ravaging cassava plants and reducing production.

The training under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) holding in Akure on Tuesday, is tagged: “Capacity Building on Development for Cassava Farmers on Good Agricultural Practices, Control and Management of Whitefly Infestation on Cassava Farms”.

Speaking at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), venue of the training, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture, said that essence of the training was to curb the spread of the disease.

Abubakar, who was represented by Mr Tony Otuonye, the Ondo State Coordinator of FMARD, stated that whitefly disease was an old scourge battling cassava plants, but disappeared until it resurfaced in 2021.

He explained that the Federal Government had to respond immediately when the state government informed the ministry.

According to him, whitefly disease hosts other bacteria, hence the need to urgently combat it.

The minister said that cassava is a major arable crop that must not be allowed to diminish in production, adding that if affected, it would have negative impacts on the Nigerian populace.

Also, Dr Garba Abubakar, a Director in the FMARD, said that cassava plants would only yield well and resist pests and diseases if they were grown under the most suitable conditions.

Represented by Dr Raji Hakeem, the Deputy Director of Root and Tuber in FMARD, Abubakar said there was need for improved methods and best practices of weed, pest, and disease control to increase cassava yield, hence the training.

He said cassava was an important food security crop with daily dietary requirements for many Nigerians and widespread industrial applications and a huge potential to drive economic growth in the country.

Mrs Omolara Oguntuyi, the Regional Director of FMARD in South-West, said that the federal ministry was working towards achieving food and nutrition security through policies and appropriate agricultural technologies.

Oguntuyi explained that Nigeria had comparative advantage in cassava production, hence the need to pay great attention to high and healthy yield of the produce.

She urged participants to disseminate knowledge gathered to their colleagues that were not privileged to attend the training.

Mr Babasola Adeniyan, the Programme Manager of the Ondo State Agricultural Development Project (ADP), thanked the Federal Government for its timely response when contacted about the disease towards the end of 2021.

Adeniyan promised that the state government in collaboration with some research institutes would come up with new disease resistant cassava plant varieties in 2023.

The Provost of FECA, Dr Akinyemi Fadiyimu, said the workshop was apt, considering that South-West is one of the epicentres of cassava production. (NAN)