Govt moves to control cashew nut wilt disease

DODOMA: THE government has taken proactive measures to address the cashew nut wilt disease, which poses a significant threat to cashew nut production in Southern regions.

The Deputy Minister for Agriculture David Silinde unveiled the government’s move when responding to query from Liwale Member of Parliament, Mohamed Kuchauka (CCM).

Mr Kuchauka inquired whether the government was ready to dispatch agricultural experts to Liwale District for comprehensive research to determine the root cause of the cashew leaf wilting disease impacting cashew nuts.

“The government has already begun conducting indepth research to identify the cause of the cashew leaf wilting disease affecting cashew nuts in Liwale District,” replied Deputy Minister for Agriculture.

He revealed that the research started in 2023 with experts from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) Naliendele Centre in collaboration with experts from the University of Dar es Salaam.

“The preliminary results of the research have revealed that the cause of cashew leaf wilting in Liwale District is a fungus called Fusarium oxysporum f. sp, which is known to be a soil-borne pathogen causing Fusarium wilt disease, posing a threat as it leads to the drying up of cashew nuts,” the deputy minister informed the House.

According to the deputy minister, the government has started providing education to farmers and agricultural experts on early methods to combat the disease.

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Cashews are an important export for Tanzania and an important source of income for small farmers in the southern coastal region.

The government has taken initiatives to spread cashew production to other regions, including Singida and Dodoma.

In another development, Deputy Minister Silinde has distributed the government distributed a total of 10 tons of high-quality sesame seeds to farmers in Kilwa in the 2023/2024 farming season.

According to Mr Silinde the government has also established demonstration farms for best sesame farming practices in the Likawage and Mandawa wards.

He was responding to Kilwa North MP Francis Ndulane (CCM) who asked when will the government provide farmers in Kilwa District with high-quality sesame seeds to enhance sesame production, as they have been relying on conventional seeds.

“Through the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the government has provided education to farmers in the Miguruwe and Mandawa wards on the importance of using improved seeds and the principles of best sesame farming practices to increase productivity,” the deputy minister added.

He encouraged the government to continue to encourage sesame farmers in Kilwa District to use improved seeds to enhance production