Wasps in a Sting Operation to save Crop
Cassava is not a crop for the illiterate
Bangkok released over 250,000 tiny wasps to eradicate a plague of mealybugs that threaten Thailand’s $1.5 billion cassava crop (Wasps to fight Thai Cassava Plague; 18 July, New York Times). In Africa where the method was pioneered; the continent is under threat of yet a new cassava viral attack known as Cassava Brown Streak Disease. East Africa’s annual 30 million tonne of cassava production is under threat with estimates of up to 70% yield loss in affected areas (CBSD - EMERGING THREAT TO CASSAVA 28 May, Crop Biotech Update)
The threat to cassava production in East Africa is not confined to viruses, pests and underground moles. The attitude of East Africans towards indigenous foods successfully pushed this drought resistant crop that requires less attention while on the farm off many people’s menu. Since there were no radio, television and print commercials on cassava as food; many people started associating it as a crop for the poor and illiterate. While growing up, I remember times in our family, when we had to purchase bread (from wheat) to serve guests even when we had a cooking pot (sufuria) full of boiled cassavas.
800 million people consume cassavas globally; this would have been mind blowing news to my mother who had been made to believe it’s not a crop for the educated anymore. As scientists fight predator mealybug in Thailand, and research on solution to Cassava Brown Streak Disease in Africa; it is important that the attitude that was planted in small holder farmers’ minds about cassava in East Africa be addressed.
