Freetown: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with WAVE Sierra Leone, Njala University, and other research and regulatory institutions, convened a national review workshop focused on the cassava viral disease preparedness and response plan.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the workshop, held at the YWCA Hall near the Siaka Stevens National Stadium in Brookfields, Freetown, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, operational readiness, and regional alignment of Sierra Leone's mechanisms to combat cassava diseases, particularly Cassava Brown Streak Disease. National Response Plans have been devised across West and Central Africa to address these issues.
During the event, Professor Abdulai Jalloh, Chief Agricultural Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the significance of this engagement and urged participants to contribute meaningfully towards bolstering national preparedness against cassava viral threats.
Dr. Alusaine E. Samura, WAVE Sierra Leone Country Director, stressed the necessity to continually develop, review, and update the country's response plan for cassava viral diseases. He explained that this initiative builds on simulation exercises conducted in 2022 across Nigeria, Ghana, C´te d'Ivoire, and Gabon, which provide valuable lessons for Sierra Leone. He acknowledged the support from CORAF under the Biorisks Project, funded by the European Union, as instrumental in facilitating the workshop.
Dr. Samura also expressed concern over the growing threat posed by Cassava Brown Streak Disease and the Ugandan variant of cassava mosaic disease, both of which have led to significant crop losses in affected regions. He emphasized the urgent need to address plant disease threats due to their direct impact on food production and livelihoods, despite attention given to other regional health emergencies.
While Cassava Brown Streak Disease has not yet appeared in Sierra Leone, Dr. Samura warned of the potential risk of cross-border transmission, underscoring the importance of early planning and coordinated strategies to safeguard cassava production, prevent food insecurity, and mitigate future famine risks.
Dr. Raymonda Johnson, Assistant Director of Crops at the ministry, emphasized the need for preparedness in data collection, surveillance, and effective communication. She stated that the workshop would enhance efforts to protect cassava production, improve crop quality, boost export potential, and contribute to economic growth through foreign exchange earnings. Additionally, she mentioned that the review process would offer researchers insights into better techniques for identifying and managing emerging plant diseases.