The prevalence of whitefly populations in cassava fields in the phase 1 WAVE member countries is recorded, as whiteflies are known to spread cassava viruses.
Cassava leaf samples were analyzed using harmonized laboratory protocols. The large dataset produced allows comparisons across all WAVE countries and has confirmed that in West Africa, CMD is primarily spread through infected cuttings, though whitefly still plays a role. This implies that training farmers on the use of clean planting material could lead to significant improvements.

Geo-referenced field surveys were carried out in all phase 1 WAVE member countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo). These included field assessments of the health status of cassava fields using a mobile survey app to ensure high quality data...