TACLOBAN CITY-An outbreak of a disease, predicted to cut cassava output in Eastern Visayas by at least 50% this year and early next year is spreading across Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces, the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) has warned.
 
Dr. Erlinda Vasquez, pest management specialist at PhilRootcrops based at the Visayas State University in Baybay City, said a large number of phytoplasma known as witches broom has been discovered in 70 hectares of land planted with cassava in Ormoc City, La Paz, Kananga and Bato in Leyte and Maasin City.

 Dr. Vasquez explained that witches broom is a disease or deformity in a woody plant, like cassava, where the natural structure of the plant is changed. A dense mass of shoots grows from a single point, resulting in a formation of a structure resembling a broom or a bird’s nest.

It particularly causes the internode to grow shorter and the leaves to discolor (light purple) and be distorted turning into bouquet-like in the apical portion of the plant. Roots and tubers become small with rough-textured skin and brown-streaked flesh.

“The disease will place a huge strain on Leyte’s cassava production,” Dr.Vasquez said in a telephone interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express.

 ”The 50% reduction of the total cassava production will affect the income of small farmers. It will also affect many laborers employed in the cassava industry,” Vasquez added.

 ”Cassava is one of the staple foods in Eastern Visayas next to rice and corn. It is also processed into animal feeds. If the infestation continues, it will result to an increase of cassava farm price,” Vasquez said.

 Based on the latest monitoring of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in the region, cassava farm price is at P11.13 per kilo.

 Meanwhile, PhilRootcrops is also investigating reports that cassava fields in three Samar provinces have also been affected.

 ”It is not surprising if these problems are spreading quickly. Climate change is one contributory factor,” Vasquez said.

 In response, PhilRootcrops has issued preliminary management guidelines to help tackle the outbreaks and contain the spread.

 According to Ms. Vasquez, the spread is almost certainly caused by the movement of infected planting material.

 ”Our immediate response is to inform the Plant Quarantine Service to impose strict quarantine regulations on the movement of cassava especially the stems used as planting material,” Vasquez said.

 Farmers were also advised to observe proper sanitation by maintaining a debris-free field after harvest.

 ”At present, we are conducting exhaustive surveys to cover the entire region to completely determine the infected areas,” Vasquez said.

 PhilRootcrops has been granted P3 million by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research for its cassava phytoplasma disease diagnosis, development and control measure.

 The DA regional office in Eastern Visayas has also committed to provide funds for the conduct of intensive trainings on cassava pest and disease identification and management next year.

 This will be attended by provincial, city and municipal agriculturists, technologists and corn farmers.

 ”Farmers’ training is needed to enable them to select clean planting material and identify pests and diseases. We also want to develop an integrated pest and disease management strategy and in the long-term, breeding varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases,” Vasquez said. (REYAN L. ARINTO)