IPM of cassava whiteflies and whitefly-transmitted viruses through farmer participatory trials using insecticidal cutting

RTB crops are of strategic importance to the future food security of Africa under predicted climate change scenarios. Cassava is the most important RTB crop in Africa, and its production and consumption are projected to increase due to its adaptability to climate change. Currently cassava is threatened by two viral diseases, cassava mosaic (CMD) and cassava brown streak (CBSD) disease. To boost and sustain cassava production there is a need to develop and deploy strategies that will halt/slow the spread of pandemics of these viruses. Approaches to achieve this include participatory surveillance based on digital tools as well as the promotion of IPM solutions such as use of clean planting materials and control of virus vectors. This project will seek to scale out the use of digital tools for diagnosis of pests and diseases (PlantVillage NURU), access to modern agronomic practices (AKILIMO) and access to clean seed planting material (SeedTracker). This study will strengthen surveillance methods for monitoring virus disease spread and develop early warning strategies that will facilitate tracking of disease fronts. IPM packages for control of cassava whiteflies will be developed through the evaluation and validation of insecticidal cutting dip treatments and spraying with entomopathogens.