Maize Lethal Necrosis

This past week I attended a CIMMYT-sponsored workshop on Maize Lethal Necrosis, a very serious disease that has developed rapidly in Eastern Africa over the past two years.  MLN involves infection with two different viruses which combine to severely reduce or completely eliminate crop yield in susceptible varieties.  The first documented case of MLN in Africa occurred in 2011, causing extensive crop loss in small pockets of western Kenya.  MLN has subsequently moved throughout much of the mid-altitude maize growing region of western Kenya and has also been identified in eastern Uganda and northern Tanzania.

The workshop included representatives from the national agricultural research centers, private seed companies, national phytosanitary regulatory agencies, universities and CIMMYT scientists from eastern and southern Africa.

On Wednesday, we drove two hours to visit a screening trial near Naivasha.  It is difficult to describe how devastating the disease is.  I have seen foliar and stalk diseases, but never anything like what I witnessed in Naivasha.  The most susceptible varieties were dying outright prior to flowering, the majority of the varieties were showing chlorotic symptoms and stunting, and the few relatively tolerant varieties were still suffering significant yield reduction.  Even plants that appeared to be developing normally often had cobs with no seed development.  It was a sobering day.

The disease is leading to a crisis for maize farmers and the seed companies who serve them.  Farmers with very limited resources have already incurred significant losses and are now unable to grow their most important crop.  Seed companies are left with inventory of lines and hybrids that they can no longer sell.  Reduced maize production in the region will invariably lead to price increases.  Since maize is the primary staple food in the region, higher prices will affect the poorest throughout eastern Africa.  It is a very serious situation.

Please remember the farmers of eastern Africa in prayer.  Many people are facing hardship because of this disease.

“He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.”  Psalm 102:17