CBN-V Video Archives - S8-19
Community Based Rapid Multiplication and Distribution Scheme in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Rosseau P.M. and B. Musangu

South East Consortium for International Development, 1634 Eye Street, NW. Suite 702, Washington DC. 20006 pr@secid.org

        In response to the outbreak of Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) that is dramatically reducing yields, the South East Consortium for International Development (SECID), with the financial support of USAID, is putting in place a rapid multiplication and distribution scheme managed at the community level. It has been reported that the most virulent strains of the CMD virus are present across the DRC and are reducing yields up to 90%. Some varieties developed by the Institut National d’Etude et de Recherche Agronomique (INERA) have shown resistance. A total of 30 ha of propagation fields of the improved varieties will be planted in each of the Bandundu and the Bas Congo provinces in RDC. Four 7.5 ha clusters of 3 to 4 propagation fields planted in pilot farms among four initial communities in each of the provinces will produce cuttings. In each community, cuttings from 7 ha will be distributed to farmers, while 0.5 ha will be used to plant 7.5 ha of propagation fields in another nearby community. Thirty months into the project and after five cassava cuttings production cycles, the project will have reached more than 3600 farmers and almost 6,000 ha will have been planted with improved cassava varieties.

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