Yield Losses of Up to 90% from Sweet Potato Virus Disease if Left Uncontrolled
Habari mpya za kilimo Tanzania · maelezo ya Yield Losses of Up to 90% from Sweet Potato Virus Disea… · imesasishwa 8 Aug 2026 · habari za kilimo · wakulima · mazao
Muhtasari
- MWANZA: FARMERS have been urged to step up control of sweet potato weevils and viral diseases that can wipe out up to 90 per cent of harvests, posing a serious threat to food security and farmers’ incomes.
- She said the disease causes severe crop damage, stunted growth and yield losses of up to 90 per cent if left uncontrolled.
- A Crop Research Officer at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Ms Mwanjia Ngangambe, said sweet potato weevils attack storage roots, causing heavy production losses.
- She further said TARI-Ukiruguru has established a formal seed system for vegetatively propagated crops, including sweet potatoes to improve farmers’ access to clean planting materials and reduce the spread of viruses.
- Sweet potato is among Tanzania’s key food and cash crops, supporting thousands of households, with experts stressing that effective pest and disease management is vital for boosting productivity and strengthening food.