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Devastating new maize disease spotted in Uganda

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Initial indications show that the infected maize crop displays wrinkled leaves and has stunted growth. Photo/JARED NYATAYA

Initial indications show that the infected maize crop displays wrinkled leaves and has stunted growth. Photo/JARED NYATAYA 

By ESTHER NAKKAZI  (email the author)
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Posted  Monday, August 9  2010 at  00:00

The current average yield in Uganda is 1.74 metric tonnes per hectare per annum, having risen by over 24 per cent from 1.2 metric tonnes per hectare due to improved varieties that are higher yielding, early maturing, and more drought tolerant.

The emergence of the disease could not have come at a worse time as prices of maize have nosedived throughout Uganda, after a bumper harvest enabled by the heavy rains in the first quarter of the year.

Prices of maize on the market are stuck at Ush120 ($0.05) per kilogramme for the second season running, from Ush1000 ($0.50) so farmers are stuck with the bumper harvest, with those who have storage facilities waiting for the prices to rise.

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