ACHIEVEMENTS
(1) Technology development , (2) Technology transfer

Technology development
A range of both hard and soft technologies have been developed through a concerted interdisciplinary and inter-institutional approach. Todate, 9 varieties have been officially released; TMS 60142, TMS 30337, TMS 30572, SS4, SS5, TMS 4(2)1425, CE 85, CE 98, 30557 code-named Nase 1, Nase 2, Nase 3, Nase 4, Nase 5, Nase 6, Nase 7, Nase 8, Nase 9 respectively. Further, several clones are in advanced stages of evaluation and wait release. Besides other recommendations have been made across disciplines ranging from phytosanitary control measures to improved production husbandry practices. For example, rouging and selection of clean planting materials, planting in isolation, restricted movement of diseased materials, use of varietal mixtures, spacing 1 m x 1 m, stakelength (25-40 cm), intercropping, rapid multiplication techniques, ratooning and safe use of bitter cassava varieties.



Technology transfer

(1)Multiplication of mosaic resistant varieties, (2) On-farm trials, (3) Capacity building, (4) Contribution of knowledge to science, (5) Global spill-overs, (6) Conferences, workshops and courses.

Multiplication of mosaic resistant varieties

Inorder to accelerate the technology transfer process, a machinery, National Network of cassava workers (NANEC) was put in place in 1991. Through this network, research on cassava has been able to register greater successes including development of new mosaic cassava varieties. An integrated strategy for multiplication and distribution of virus-free stocks of improved varieties was developed and used by NANEC. Todate, more than 250,000 ha of improved resistant varieties have been established. By and large, NANEC through its participatory research approaches in the development and transfer of cassava technologies has been overwhelming successful. This is explicitly illustrated by high yields of new cassava varieties that bridged the yield-gap caused by the devastating CMD epidemic, the rapid adoption and uptake of new cassava varieties, and the large and positive internal rates of return (IRR) derived from the overall cassava project and from separate projects. The IRR has been estimated to be between 100 and 200%

On-farm trials
A number of on-farm trials have been conducted throughout the country. The trials enabled identification of cassava genotypes suitable fort he diverse local and farmers' conditions and strengthened the partnership amongst researchers, extensionists and farmers since each had a role to play in the trials. To-date, more than 580 on-farm trials have been conducted.


Capacity building
Nearly all the programme staff has been trained at Masters' and Ph.D. level. The training of farmers and other stakeholders increased farmers' knowledge on mosaic and its control. Currently, there is greater awareness on CMD spread and control than before. Not only did creation of awareness stop at farm level, it went even to other members of the public. The programme has documented some of its activities on video and this has been put for public viewing over Uganda Television at least four times a year since 1996.


Contribution of knowledge to science

The classical study of molecular biology of UgV, particularly DNA-A, has shown that the virus arose through hybridization between torelated viruses, EACMV and ACMV. This is the first report to show that when two related geminiviruses co infect a host, a recombination is possible. This is of great significance because it suggests that geminiviruses could become even more important as more than one species adapt to similar hosts.

The studies has also shown that ACMV and EACMV co-infected cassava. Plants infected in this way showed more severe symptoms that those infected singly. This is important because it suggests that two related geminiviruses can co-infect one host and cause synagestic effects on symptom severity. It demonstrates that mild strain protection is less likely in geminiviruses unlike in other viruses where cross-protection is the order.

Global spill-overs
The knowledge, technologies and experiences generated in Uganda, puts the programme at a unique position to assist neighboring countries experiencing similar problems. The mosaic epidemic has already destroyed much cassava in western Kenya, entered Tanzania and is spreading rapidly in DRC and Southern Sudan. The programme has already been approached to assist in Kenya. A substantial amount of planting material was mobilized and planted as nucleus multiplication at Alupe Research Station and Kakamega Regional Research Station (Fig. 15). The first series of harvests of these stems have been moved to initiate multiplication of mother gardens in a few districts in western Kenya. Plans are underway to expand these to cover multiplication in all districts and sub-counties within districts. Requests have been received from Tanzania. Discussions have been held with the scientists there and plans to initiate multiplication has been drawn up. A similar thing could be extended to DRC and Southern Sudan once insecurity in those countries stops.