Ghana’s Cassava Future at Risk: Urgent Action Needed Against Viral Diseases, Warns Dr. Oppong
Ghana faces the alarming prospect of importing cassava, a staple food and critical cash crop, if the rampant spread of viral diseases threatening its cultivation is not promptly contained. This stark warning comes from Dr. Allen Oppong, a Principal Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–Crop Research Institute. His caution underscores the severe implications for national food security and the livelihoods of countless Ghanaian farmers should these diseases go unchecked.
Strengthening Defenses: Capacity Building for Cassava Virus Surveillance
Dr. Oppong, who also serves as Country Director for the Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) project, delivered this crucial message during a specialized training of trainers’ workshop held in Tamale. Organized under the WAVE project, the initiative aimed to bolster the capabilities of Agricultural Directors and Extension Officers in advanced cassava virus surveillance techniques. The vital workshop gathered officers from twelve key districts and municipalities across Ghana’s Northern, Bono East, Oti, Savannah, and Upper West Regions. Participants hailed from areas including Krachi Nchumuru, Krachi West, Kintampo South, Kintampo North, Sagnarigu, Savelugu, Nanton, Mion, Tamale, Central Gonja, West Gonja, Wa East, and Sissala. A significant aspect of the training focused on leveraging modern tools like the Kobo Collect mobile application, empowering agricultural personnel with efficient digital methods for monitoring and reporting disease outbreaks, which is crucial for early detection and rapid response in African agriculture.
The collaborative efforts of the CSIR and WAVE project highlight a concerted drive to safeguard Ghana’s cassava production. However, the expert warning from Dr. Oppong serves as a potent reminder that these diseases pose a significant threat that could force Ghana to rely on external sources for a crop fundamental to its economy and dietary needs. Halting the spread of these viral pathogens is paramount to ensuring food self-sufficiency and protecting the agricultural sector from devastating losses.
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