Cassava is cultivated in almost all the districts of Ghana and it is the number one staple food crop for majority of Ghanaians. Cassava is also fast becoming an important crop for industries because of its high starch content. Diseases and pests cause severe yield losses in all production districts where susceptible cultivars are grown. The major diseases of the crop in Ghana continue to be African Cassava Mosaic Disease ACMD, Cassava Bacterial Blight CBB and Cassava Anthracnose CAD. Root rot diseases of cassava are gradually becoming important in the major cassava producing regions of the country with high yield losses due to rots being reported regularly by farmers and Agriculture Extension Agents. Complete crop failure due to root rots have been observed in farms in different regions of the country. Rotten roots are not suitable for food or any processed product such as ‘gari’ or flour. Severe yield losses due to root rots affect cassava supply to urban markets and weakens food security of rural communities. Root rots of cassava leave farmers poor.

Address: CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana
Website: http://www.isppweb.org/foodsecurity_cassavaghana.asp