Construction of a modern cassava transformation laboratory has started at Uganda’s Namulonge Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) with funding from the US Agency for International Development and administered by the Association of Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and the Danforth Plant Science Center at St. Louis, USA. The new lab will be used to develop two new cassava varieties named Ebwan Aterac and Aladu by Ugandan scientists led by Dr. Yona Baguma, an agricultural scientist and molecular biologist with NaCRRI. He estimates that research, development, trials and commercial release of the disease resistant varieties will take a minimum of five years. Cassava Mosaic Virus (CMV) and Brown Streak Virus (BSV) are the most important constraints to cassava production in the region.

Dr Charles Mugoya, coordinator of ASARECA’s Agro-biodiversity and Biotechnology Programme, said improving cassava productivity is part of the long term strategies aimed at enhancing food security in Eastern and Central Africa region where tens of thousands of people are faced with starvation.

Other countries in the region that are participating in the cassava transformation programme are Kenya and Tanzania.

For more information contact Daniel Otunge (d.otunge@cgiar.org) of ISAAA AfriCenter..