Aidah Nanyonjo
11 March 2008
Kampala — A rampant potato disease reported in Kabale district poses a danger to people's livelihood.
Dr Andrew Kiggundu, a research officer at the National Agricultural Laboratory Research Institute, Kawanda, says the virus affects the quality and quantity of the crop. Kiggundu, who was speaking at a two-day media training for science journalists at Ankrah Foundation, Mukono recently, says research shows that almost all the potatoes grown in the area have the virus.
The current average potato production in Uganda stands at about seven tonnes per hectare, compared to a possible yield of 30 to 40 tonnes per hectare, if well-managed.
"Poor farmers have been planting virus infested potatoes, rapidly increasing the virus' multiplication," Kiggundu says.
The virus is spread by insect vectors and through human contact from plant to plant. The virus can also be transmitted from tuber plants from one season to another. Symptoms of the disease include curling of leaves, mosaic, retarded growth and poor yields.
However, a tissue culture laboratory to deal with the potato disease in the area has been developed at Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Kabale.
"Through the use of tissue culture, improved quality seed potato can be generated and provided to farmers as clean seed to improve yields, even under sub-optimal soil fertility and rain conditions," Kiggundu says.
Potatoes are known to have high nutritional value, especially in children.
The crop is mainly grown in the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Mbale, Sironko and Kapchorwa.
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