=By Anthony Muchoki=:
“Our biggest cry today is the markets. We have a lot of cassava ready for
harvest, but there are no markets. Zanzibar should have industries that
uses cassava as raw materials, else so much cassava will go to waste every
year.”
This are words of Ali Hamisi Msamu, the secretary general of farmers
organization in known as Kasi Mpya ya Kilimo cha Mihogo (loosely
translated into group or new speed cassava farming.)
For the members of the group based in Unguja South Region, Central
district, Uzini Constituency, Mchangani Shamba ward, only two years ago,
they were so devastated because they could not grow one of their favorite
crops- cassava. It was being devoured by diseases, and they were producing
nothing or very little at a time. How things change!
THE people of Zanzibar in the United Republic of Tanzania have a lot to
thank the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for,
specifically in the area of cassava farming. The Alliance has gone out of
its way to support in cash and in kind the ‘free’ distribution of cassava
cultivation inputs and related materials to poor farmers under a subsidized
voucher system.
The support could not have come at a better time, taking into account that
cassava farming on the Isles had been consigned to the doldrums as a result
of plantations being severely attacked by viral diseases.
This was a double tragedy, considering that cassava is a staple food for
many Zanzibari households in ways more than one.
First, cassava flour is widely used in preparing ‘Ugali,’ a stiff porridge.
Also, cassava leaves are expertly prepared into vegetable soup, ‘kisamvu.’
Both combine to form a nutritious ‘dish’ that is common among fishing
communities in Zanzibar in particular, and coastal communities in general.
Zanzibaris were on the verge of losing their cassava crop which provides
the raw materials for a popular dish in the world-famous Spice Islands when
AGRA smartly stepped into the breach.
Haji Salehe is the Director of Research at the Kizimbazi Research Unit,
part of the Zanzibar Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & the Environment.
Commenting upon the matter, Salehe said Zanzibaris in general were
awestruck when the viral cassava diseases of ‘brown streak’ and ‘mosaic’
attacked cassava plantations on the Isles.
The Director said the diseases swept across Zanzibar, ravaging cassava
plantations, much to the chagrin of farmers.
Clearly apprehensive of the situation, the Revolutionary Government of
Zanzibar hurriedly intervened. In the event, research performed at
Kizimbazi Station led to the creation virtually in no time of four
varieties of disease-resistant and high-yielding cassava seeds.
Identifying the four new varieties as ‘Kizimbani,’ ‘Mahonda,’ ‘Kama’ and
‘Machui,’ Salehe said “these varieties have given the cassava sub-sector a
new lease of life. Even small-scale farmers are now assured of the food
they love – and, for the nation, the best food security they can have!”
Narrating the history of the diseases, Director Salehe said that, “although
the first strike was reported in 1994, the afflictions had spread far and
wide by 2002… In fact, all the local varieties of cassava grown in
Zanzibar were susceptible.”
Heeding the call for help from the Government, local crop scientists,
working in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA), started a breeding programme to develop cassava
varieties which would be resistant to the two diseases.
In due course of time and events, their efforts handsomely paid off. After
only four years of intense work, the four new varieties were released for
application in 2007.
“You have to understand that cassava is a very important staple in
Zanzibar, where it comes in second place of choice after rice,” Saleh
stressed.
“It is our food security crop, as it grows in most of the agro-ecological
zones – including in the dry parts of the Isles where other crops do not
perform as well. So, when the diseases hit, it was very devastating for the
Isles’ food security. We had to act fast to save the situation!”
The research team started a rapid multiplication programme and, with
considerable assistance from AGRA, they were able to work with the farmers
to effectively spread the improved varieties countrywide.
Largely as a result of the hard work put in by the researchers at
Kizimbazi, combined with AGRA’s timely help in various aspects, including
distribution of the new varieties, Zanzibaris now can enjoy the new cassava
varieties. Even more confidently!
“If not for the support of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa,
especially in distributing planting materials free-of-charge to poor
farmers under a voucher programme, there would have been no success to talk
of today,” Salehe bubbled with appreciation.
All in all, Salehe not only applauded AGRA for its calculated move to help
Zanzibaris; he also expressed unreserved hope that the Alliance will keep
up its good will and excellent work in providing more support to farmers
and other socio-economic developmental players in Zanzibar.
“With their support, we managed to eliminate not only the diseases but
also the fear for food insecurity,” the director affirmed.