Nkurunziza GelaseISABU/Maize

nkurugelase@yahoo.frnkurugelase@gmail.com

Burundi area: 27 834 km2

Population in 2008: 8 060 000 More than 90%: agricultural people Cereals as maize: main crop in Burundi Principal known deseases of maize in

Burundi: MSV, Common Rust, Turci, GLS, MSV is a dangerous desease because it is

diffucult to control and the resistant varieties degenerate very quickly

About MLND: - Not sure if there is MLN in Burundi- Overlook the symptoms of MLN- High probality to have it in Burundi Need to confirm that MLN exits or no by

analysis Opportunities: phyto laboratory, staff

Sample collected and analysed: 2 possibilities of results:

MLND do not exist in Burundi: strategies to convert its entry in the country

MLND exist in Burundi: strategies to fight against its propagation or to manage it

Educate farmers about the disease: symptoms, its scale, mode of propagation, its means of control, etc.

Early alert systems: if a farmer suspected of similar symptoms, he must inform the agricultural services

Promote and popularize the rotation system that prevents its spread: avoid previous crops based cereals, would prevent virus survival on intermediate hosts

Popularize the best system and planting date: not spread over the seedlings in the same site, even if irrigation is possible or even if it rains all year

Avoid imported germplasm or seed from countries where the disease exists

Conduct research on the selection or development of MLN resistant varieties

Train the farmers about the disease: symptoms, its scale, mode of propagation, strategies for control, etc.

Promote and popularize the rotation system that prevents its spread: avoid previous crops based on cereals would prevent virus survival on intermediate hosts

Conduct research on the selection or development of resistance varieties

Collaborate with international research institutes working on maize

Disseminate MLND resistant varieties