MEDA Tanzania e-Payments Snapshot

Cassava is the second most important source (behind maize) of carbohydrates in Africa, where it’s consumed by more than 500 million people every day. Yet two rapidly spreading diseases have caused yield losses of up to 80% with many of the existing landrace varieties. Research institutions are breeding new varieties that have higher disease tolerance and yield potential, but the challenge has been how to get these new varieties out to farmers in the absence of formal seed markets. Mihogo Mbegu Bingwa (Swahili for Cassava Seed Champion) is a MEDA program that enables local progressive farmers to establish seed businesses, bridging this gap between researchers and small farmers, and creating a consistent supply of newer varieties of disease-resistant, disease-free seed.