DRC: AGRICULTURE:
DRC cassava farmers embrace new farming methods

5/8/2012 3:10:02 AM
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DRC - Democratic Republic of Congo farmers are benefitting from a new variety of cassava, which, in combination with improved agricultural techniques, outperforms other popular types of the crop. - Cassava is a staple food in many parts of DRC and farmers disappointed with harvests of the popular F100 variety, which has proved vulnerable to a plant disease called mosaic, have turned to a newer strain with great success.

The new TME 419 cassava is proving popular and economically viable.

More than 250 small-farmer associations say 84 tonnes of the new variety was harvested last year.

It earned them $39 960 compared to just $6 160 dollars from 14 tonnes of F100 in 2010. (END/RADIO BULLETIN EDITOR/2012)

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