THE International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has developed a digital technology to help cassava farmers and seed producers identify common diseases that often hinder cultivation of the root and tuber crop in the country.

The technology Plant Village Nuru, is useful in identification of cassava mosaic disease as well as cassava brown streak disease.

In an interview here yesterday, Dr. Juma Yabeja, IITA Senior Research Associate said the institute has also researched and hatched another technology, dubbed CROPVAR.

"The digital technology is for assisting cassava seed producers to identify diseases at early stage of crop development for roguing purposes, a practice that results in reduction of inoculum pressure within the seed, hence managing diseases that upset the crop in their field through use of smart phones," he said.

He briefed that the technologies have been invented through series of projects, starting with Building an Economically Sustainable Seed System for Cassava (BEST)- (2016-2020), Building Economically Integrated Cassava Seed System  Phase II (BASIC II) ( 2021-2025) and  Programme for seed system innovation for vegetatively propagated crops in Africa(2025-2027).

Through working with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and Mennonite Development Associates, Dr Yabeja said the vision behind the move is to ensure the sector is equipped with safe and improved kernels.

Apart from cassava, he said the technology is useful in detecting diseases in banana, especially the banana bunchy top disease (BBTD).

"Among other key digital tools use incorporate Cassava Seed Tracker, Plant Village Nuru and A -Kilimo," he said, adding that the digital tools can easily be accessed in the Google Play Store using smart phones.

"Seed Tracker which is managed by TOSCI is for real-time tracking of cassava production, including pre-planting, registration of seed fields, crop management, harvesting, quality assessment and quantity," he said