By Wezzie Gausi:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has warned that an outbreak of downy mildew disease in maize could spread beyond the currently affected areas and threaten the country’s harvest if farmers delay taking action.
The disease is caused by a water mould and affects maize as well as other crops such as sorghum, sugarcane and millet.
The ministry says infection often starts at an early stage, resulting in stunted growth, premature plant death, malformed tassels and failure of cobs to form.
In a statement signed by Davis Sado on urged farmers and the public to report suspected cases to agricultural extension officers or government offices to help contain the outbreak.
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The disease has a long history in Malawi. It was first reported on sorghum in the 1980s and small outbreaks were recorded on millet in the late 1980s.
While early occurrences were relatively contained, downy mildew became a major problem for maize in the 2004-05 growing season, particularly in districts like Blantyre, Mulanje and Thyolo.
The outbreaks caused significant yield losses, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on maize as their staple food.
