Zambia IPM project 01: Biological control of cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti and cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa in Zambia

 Project duration: On-going project and logistical support from international organizations and the Zambian government.

 Purpose of the project: Assessment of the impact of both pests to the small scale farmers and employing health management strategies to reduce and minimize crop losses by introducing non hazardous natural enemies. The activity is done to the cassava growing areas of the country.

 Background/Description: Cassava seems to be grown in the mid to higher altitude of the northern regions of the country. As a result of the drought experienced in the past 10 years, the crop has been introduced in all drought-affected countries. Accidental introduction of the above pests resulted on cassava rendered a near famine in the country and control strategies were not available, though it was believed that chemicals would do. It was in the absence of difficult control strategies that biological control was developed to bring the high density of the above pests to a minimum. This measure has successfully controlled these pests in West African countries like Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Southern Africa like Malawi. Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi has been introduced in these countries as an effective biological control agent against cassava mealybug. However, the predatory mite Typhlodromalus aripo has proved successful in other countries but partially established in Zambia in the Luapula province. In other areas where it has been difficult to establish, other strategies should be employed to reduce CGM population densities.

 Agro-ecological zone and location: Lowland savanna of Northern Zambia

 Expected outputs: 1) Host cultivars that have some degree of tolerance be introduced to suppress pest populations, 2) Finding better host for the phytoseiid to establish in areas where non-target organisms do not interfere with the predatory mite, 3) Introduction of farmer driven simple measures that are affordable by small-scale communities, 4) Population dynamics in the lowland savanna to be assessed.

 Potential impact and beneficiaries: 1) Cassava growers would benefit a lot without investing much in production, 2) Higher yields are expected from tolerant higher yield potential varieties, 3) Rearing and release of natural enemies strengthened to benefit all farming communities.

Partners: RTIP, ZARI, Zambia

Development investor(s): IITA

Project contact person(s)/principal inventors: A. Chalabesa, and A. Sumani, nlccp@zamtel.zm or mtmakulu@zamnet.zm) , Mt Makulu Central Research Station, P. O. Box 7, Chilanga, Zambia