MAIZE LETHAL NECROSIS DISEASE SURVEY REPORT FOR MALAWI

PI: J. Masangwa Co-PI: D. Gondwe and D. Kamangira

MLN DIAGNOSTICS AND MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REVIEW & PLANNING MEETING

MAIZE (Peter and Herrera, 1994)

“Is life”

“Political crop”

Consumption per capita (181kgs)

(FEWS-NET, 2016)

The maize industry is valued at US$613 million.

Maize seed export accounts for US$24 million.

Grain, bran and stovers are also used or processed

into animal feeds.

• The presence of MLND in Tanzania is posing a major threat to Malawi’s maize industry.

• Farmers are not aware of the presence of the disease in the East African region introduction and spread of the disease in the

country illegal maize trade and seed sharing.

Justification

i. The main objective is to establish the occurrence of MLND in Malawi through disease and vector pest surveillance.

ii. Raise MLND awareness to the farming communities.

Objectives

Northern region: Mzimba, Rumphi, Karonga, Chitipa, Nkhata-Bay Central region: Mchinji, Kasungu, Dedza, Nkhotakota, Salima, Lilongwe, Dedza & Ntcheu. Southern region: Machinga, Zomba, Phalombe, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chikwawa & Nsanje

1.0 survey sites

Materials and methods

Field inspection pattern

Agristrip (BIOREBA AG – Switzerland) Lateral flow assey

(DSMZ – Germany)

Confirmation

Testing

FIELD SAMPLING AND MLND TESTING

Data recording

RESULTS - Map of survey sites

Negative

(1 red strip)

SOURCES OF MAIZE SEED MAIZE VARIETIES THAT WERE PLANTED

DISEASED VS DISEASED FREE FIELDS

OTHER DISEASES THAT AFFECTED MAIZE CROP

CONTINOUS MAIZE CROPPING ACCESS OF EXTENSION SERVICES

Conclusion and recommendations

Malawi is MLND free and most farmers have accesses to agricultural services.

Only a very small proportion of farmers exchange seed but most of them get it through purchase, donation or farmer save.

Maize streak virus disease predominates all diseases in winter cropping.

There is a need to continue monitoring the MLND through surveillances.

MLND awareness to avoid the introduction of the disease through use of infected seed.

Seed testing

Malawi government CIMMYT

Acknowledgements