VIRCA

Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) supports research to develop and deliver farmer-preferred cassava varieties to farmers in Uganda and Kenya. VIRCA's focus is the development of cassava resistant to locally devastating viral diseases such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease.

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Mission

Viral diseases cause significant losses for cassava production for subsistence farmer in Africa. The effects of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) have been substantial over the recent past. Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is a new disease that is moving from Eastern towards Western Africa and is responsible for increasing losses. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Monsanto Fund and USAID, the VIRCA project is directed to cassava improvement for reducing the impact of these viruses on Africa’s most important food security crop.