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Elliot Ziwira
Senior Writer
Detection of a catastrophic fungal disease that poses a serious threat to rain-fed wheat production, for the first time in Africa, is cause for concern for the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to a report published in September 2020 by scientists from the Zambian Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and the United States Department of Agriculture — Foreign Disease Weed Science Research Unit (USDA-ARS), symptoms of wheat blast were first identified in Zambia during the 2018 rainy season.
The devastating wheat disease was confined to plots and small-scale farms in the Mpika District of Muchinga province, which spells gloom for surrounding regions and countries on the continent, particularly those with identical ecological conditions.
Though new in Africa, the malady currently exposes tropical countries in South America and South Asia to food insecurity and threatens livelihoods.
The wheat disease, which was first discovered in Brazil in 1985, is caused by the ascomycetous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT).
About three million hectares of wheat had been affected in South America alone since the discovery of the disease.
Having made its first intercontinental jump to Asia in 2016, wheat blast wreaked havoc in Bangladesh, where it reduced yields by up to 51 percent on average, thus becoming endemic to the country.
The blast has potential to spread to other regions with warm, humid and wet conditions, particularly in India and Pakistan, which are nearby.
The disease spreads via infected seeds, crop residues and spores that can travel long distances in the air.
It is through such mechanisms of expansion, the report noted, that the blast spread to Zambia, hence putting the African continent at risk.
Batiseba Tembo, a wheat breeder at ZARI, and leading scientist on the study said the discovery of wheat blast in Zambia posed a “challenging biotic constraint” to rain-fed wheat production in the country and beyond.
“The first occurrence of the disease was very distressing. This happened at the spike stage, and caused significant losses,” said Tembo, adding that “nothing of this nature has happened before in Zambia.”
She warned that the blast is a disaster that required immediate attention as it has the “potential to marginalise the growth of rain-fed wheat production in Zambia and may threaten wheat production in neighbouring countries.”
Symptoms of the disease are “silvery white spikes and a green canopy”, which results in shrivelled grains, or no grains in some cases, leaving an entire field exposed within a week.
To mitigate the challenge posed and battle the disease, Tembo said it is crucial that regional and global scientists collaboratively find lasting solutions through innovation.
Pawan Singh, head of wheat pathology at CIMMYT, said: “A set of research outcomes, including the development of resistant varieties, identification of effective fungicides, agronomic measures, and new findings in the epidemiology of disease development will be helpful in mitigating wheat blast in Zambia.”
On their part the CIMMYT and the CGIAR Research Programme on Wheat (WHEAT) are engaging in training and inviting global participants to apprise them of prevailing technical skills in blast diagnosis and treatment.
Scientists are also studying the genetic factors leading to increased resistance to the disease and developing early warning systems.
About 2,5 billion global citizens rely on wheat as a staple food.
Zimbabwe is among scores of African countries that have been making inroads in ensuring wheat self-sustenance, and save on foreign currency by reducing imports.
The country requires between 400 000 and 450 000 tonnes of wheat each year, translating to at least 25 000 tonnes monthly, to meet demand pegged at one million loaves per day.
Yet wheat production has been on the decline.
In the years 1990, 1999, and 2001, annual wheat production peaked at 325 000 tonnes, 324 000 tonnes and 325 000 tonnes, respectively, due to technical and financial support accorded to farmers.
Figures declined starting from 2002 when output was recorded at 150 000 tonnes, maintaining annual production figures above 100 000 tonnes until 2008 when production dropped further to 38 000 tonnes, 33 700 in 2012, 24 700 tonnes in 2013, 34 000 tonnes in 2014 and around 20 000 tonnes in 2016.
In 2017 and 2018 production peaked at 158 000 tonnes and 200 000 tonnes, respectively.
In 2019, wheat production was 90 000 tonnes, a 110 000 drop from the prior season, leaving a deficit of 310 000 tonnes.
With the landed price of wheat per tonne pegged at between US$380 and US$407, the country required at least US$124 million for imports to fill the gap.
However, winter wheat production is on the rebound as Zimbabwe is expected to harvest nine months’ supply of the crop from the 2020 season, saving the country in excess of US$60 million on imports.
The remaining three months’ supply still requires to be covered through imports, which makes the advent of wheat blast on the continent worrisome, particularly as the need to introduce summer production arises.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement indicated that summer wheat production would be introduced starting from the 2021-2022 season to ensure self-sufficiency and cut on future imports.
The need to keep abreast with global trends, particularly in the wake of the wheat blast catastrophe, cannot be overemphasised.
Therefore, the myth that wheat grown in Zimbabwe is of poor quality should be debunked and in its place a new mantra embedded; it is not about conditions, it is about willpower.
Nevertheless, the bready news is that the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) appointed the National Wheat Contract Farming Committee (NWCFC), a technical committee to lead the winter wheat contract farming for three years beginning from 2019.
That, indeed, is great bready tidings.
Comprising agriculture sector specialists, the NWCFC’s appointment came at an opportune moment as it dovetails with goals of the economic blueprint, Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), aimed at facilitating the implementation of national Vision 2030.
With a princely purse of $80 million, a dedicated team of experts in agriculture, a shared vision and supportive policymakers, the earmarked 150 000 tonnes annually can easily be surpassed, and position the nation state for delivery of own bread.
Online Reporter