The Federal Government has raised an alarm over a recent virile disease, Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), ravaging East and Central Africa now making its way to West Africa.
Dr Muhammed Umar, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the 2019 Cassava Investment Forum.
The Permanent Secretary represented by Ayodeji Bobby, Head, Font and Tuber Crops in the ministry called for a collective effort in securing Nigeria and West African region against the virus.
He said that the disease had caused over 90 per cent loss in a cassava farm in the country.
The permanent secretary said the alarm was necessary because Nigeria remained the largest producer of cassava, adding that a total of 36.8 million matric tonnes of cassava were harvested from 3.13 million hectare in 2013.