Achievements and Challenges:

Country experiences of response for

management and control of MLN in

Uganda

Stephen Byantwale on behalf of UG-Team

Presentation Outline

• Introduction

• National MLN Task Force

• Achievements

• Challenges

• Lessons Learnt

Introduction

• Government of Uganda prioritized Maize in the

Development Strategy and Investment Plan (DSIP)

2010/11-2014/15– currently producing 4.2million MT

(2014) with a target of 7.5 million MT by 2017.

• MLN was first reported in 2012 and since then has posed

a significant challenge to the crop.

• Uganda benefited from the FAO sub-regional technical

cooperation project, TCP/SFE/3405,”Regional response

for management and control of Maize Lethal Necrosis

Disease in Eastern Africa.”

• Uganda was allocated/received USD 103,000 to undertake

activities in line with the expected project outputs.

MLN National Task Force

Name Title Institution

Stephen Byantwale Ag. Commissioner, Department

of Crop Protection/Chair MAAIF

Robert Karyeija Commissioner MAAIF

Godfrey Asea Principal Research Officer/

Director NaCRRI

Geoffrey Tusiime Senior Lecturer Makerere University

Charles Lwanga Kasozi Research Officer NaCRRI

Beatrice Namaloba Senior Agric Officer MAAIF

Nelson Masereka Executive Director Uganda Seed

Traders Association

Rodeyn Nicolai Manager NASECO seeds Co.

David Kutunga Senior Agric Inspector,

Epidemics MAAIF

Output 1: Institutional Coordination

• National MLN task forces established and

functional

o Project Coordination: Department of Crop Protection,

MAAIF and NARO

o MLN Technical Taskforce constituted

o Two National Stakeholder Workshops held

o Participated in regional plant pests and disease

platform meetings in Kigali and Nairobi

• A National strategy on management and control of MLN in Uganda (2015-2020) was developed

Output 2.0: Status of MLN spread and capacity for monitoring occurrence • Rapid surveillance missions conducted to

determine the extent of spread of the disease and/or establish the severity of the disease.

• Disseminated rapid surveillance data to relevant stakeholders.

• Conducted Training of extension staff (100) on MLN

Output 2.0: Status of MLN spread and capacity for monitoring occurrence

16 districts surveyed in 2

seasons

• Field disease incidence

variable among districts

• Field Incidence of MLN

was highest 2014A

(31.7%) than in first

season 2015 A(31.0%)

and second season

2014B(15.8%).

Incidence MCMV in different affected districts

Capacity for MLN diagnosis and detection strengthened

• 604 samples (Sorghum and Napier grass) collected

• DAS-ELISA, lateral flow assays (LFA) kits procured

• Samples assayed independently for MCMV and SCMV

• Highest incidence of MCMV in 2014B

• 100 extension and seed company staff trained

Output 3: Knowledge and skills to mitigate MLN enhanced . • 10 radio talk shows and 2 TV shows were

conducted in 2014/2015 in affected and non-

affected areas

• Promotion of appropriate crop production and management practices (Next Slides)

Training and demonstration of best-bet practices

• On- farm testing and

fields of best-bet

varieties- CKH100773

and Bazooka in

Tororo, Busia,

Bulambuli, Bugiri

• Demonstration of MLN

management practices

in Manafwa, Tororo

and Busia

• 6 Field days in eastern

Uganda

Entry Name Yield Ears/ Husk Grain Grain Plant MLN (%)

t/ha Rank Plant Cover Text Moist Aspect

1 CKH10773 3.9 1 0.95 5.1 1.5 15.8 2.8 2.68

2 Longe 6H 3.6 2 1.03 5.5 1.5 15.0 2.8 6.25

3 Longe 9H 3.2 4 1.08 8.8 1.8 15.0 3.0 4.42

4 Longe 10H 3.3 3 1.06 5.4 2.0 15.7 3.0 4.84

Mean 3.49 3 1.03 6.2 1.7 15.4 2.9 4.55 LSD (0.05)

0.79 1 0.15 3.8 0.6 1.3 0.7

CV 7.12 4.71 19.2 10.5 2.6 7.1 46.7

p ns ns ns ns ns ns *

Min 3.19 1 0.95 5.1 1.5 15.0 2.8 2.68

Max 3.85 4 1.08 8.8 2.0 15.8 3.0 6.25

Performances and demonstration of CKH10773 in 2 farmer managed sites in MLN areas in 2014B

Developed and distributed information and training materials (1000

copies each of brochures, leaflets and 150 Training Manuals)

Challenges

• Delayed implementation of the project

• Insufficient information on seed transmission at the

beginning of the project

• Continuous maize cropping – different stages

• ineffective control of movement of seed and grain

from affected areas

• Inadequate resources for effective and routine

surveillance and monitoring

• Inadequate control of seed moving across borders

• Weak extension system

Lessons learnt

• Involvement of multidisciplinary stakeholders along the

value chain is key to management MLN

• Seed contributes significantly to spread of MLN

• Training and awareness about field diagnosis and

control has helped to limit the disease spread

• Experience from disease epidemics such as BBW,

CBSD and MLN national task forces have guided

Ministry to now put in place a National Plant Protection

and Health Technical Committee as provided for in Plant

Protection and Health Act, 2015

END

Thank you for your attention!