Cassava mealy bug

This is a serious cassava insect pest in the county. Symptoms Of infestation includes;   

• shorted internodes
•  bunchy tops
• stunted growth and complete defoliation. 

The plants should be checked for the presence of an insect which is covered by a waxy mealy like substances, hence the name mealy bug.

No chemical control measures are advocated at the moment.  The impact of the mealy   bug on cassava is reduced by; 

• the use of clean planting materials,
• early planting
• restricting movement of cutting form affected areas and biological control.

Early planting will enable the plant to establish and to form roots by onset of the dry season before the cassava mealy bug population starts increasing and cause damage. Biological control is slow, therefore farmers, are encouraged to strictly follow the recommended cultural practices.

These are sucking insects and their feeding habit is not very destructive.

• Control is aimed at the disease and not the insect’s pest. 
• And the use of clean planting materials is advocated.

• These are sucking insect’s pests.
• Their feeding activity result into yellow and defoliation of leaves.  
• Occur on the stem and leaves.
• Yields are reduced substantially.

Using clean planting materials and early planting

• This is a serious pest in cassava.
• It is prevalent during the dry season.
• It feeds on young and tender shoots.
• Damage symptoms includes yellow speckles, leaf size reduction

• Early planting 
• use of resistant varieties
• clean planting materials

 Cassava mosaic disease 

• It is caused by cassava mosaic virus.
• It is characterized by mottled   and curled leaves and transmitted by white flies.

• Use of clean planting materials
• Uprooting infected plants in the file and burning the uprooted

The disease is characterized by wilting tips and eventually appears as die back.

• Burying or burning infected plants
• Use of clean materials