Cambodia is experiencing a cassava mosaic virus outbreak. It started in Ratanakkiri province and quickly spread to 6 provinces in the country’s east.
Cambodia is a key cassava producer with around 13 million tonnes of cassava produced annually. The outbreak has caused serious blow to the industry. The country is now in talks with Thailand to introduce a new seed to fight the cassava mosaic virus outbreak. Known as KU 50, the Thai seed is claimed to be not affected by the virus.
However, to introduce the new seeds, Cambodian General Department of Agriculture seeks the collaboration of all stakeholders including farmers. Cambodian farmers are using a different seed variety and asking them to replace it with another seed can be a sensitive issue. Moreover, prior to the new disease-resistant seed can be planted, all existing plantations (that are affected by cassava mosaic virus) need to be cleared. It is very important to clear the contaminated plantations as a single infected cassava plant can quickly contaminate the rest of the plantation.
The government is keen to provide financial assistance to farmers so that they can buy new seeds.
Cambodia’s cassava mosaic virus can cause serious production losses as well as reduce its exports. In fact the Thai government is considering a ban on imports of Cambodian cassava to avoid any possibility of contaminating crops in Thailand - the leading producer of the root crop.
Get more details of cassava plantations in Cambodia and cassava mosaic virus outbreak from Prak Cheattho, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at CMT’s 8th Starch World Asia on 23-24 January, 2019 in Bangkok.
