The production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), one of the cornerstones of Amazonian agriculture and an essential food for millions of people worldwide, faces a new threat: the plague known as Witch's Broom. After arriving in Brazil through Amapá, the organism is now advancing towards Pará. In this scenario, the Maniva Tapajós Project emerges as a strategic reinforcement in tackling the problem.

The initiative is developed by researchers from the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), in partnership with technicians from Bio Tec-Amazônia and the Association of Amazonian Universities (UNAMAZ), a center of intelligence in bioeconomy. The project has financial support from the Financing Agency for Studies and Projects (FINEP), linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA), and BNDES Bioinsumos, among other institutions. The coordinator of Maniva Tapajós, Professor and researcher Eliandra Sia from UFOPA, warns of the seriousness of the situation.
“We are facing a serious problem with the cassava plague, the so-called ‘Witch's Broom,’ which is already coming from Amapá towards Pará. We need to strongly implement emergency actions,” she says.

Eliandra explains that UFOPA is already developing research to face the challenge as soon as it is possible to access the fungus in the productive areas. The institution has been working for over a decade to combat diseases that affect cassava cultivation.

Over 11 years of operation, Maniva Tapajós has obtained significant results, especially in combating Cassava Root Rot, which caused a shortage of planting material for family farmers.
“Together with Embrapa and with fieldwork, we identified four varieties tolerant to root rot. We strongly invested in biopharmaceuticals, distributed planting material, and strengthened productive areas. Today we are already seeing an impact after this continuous work,” highlights the coordinator.
Data from Embrapa reinforces the urgency in combating pests that affect the crop. Cassava, originally from South America, is the second main energy food in the world — behind only rice — for about 1 billion people, mainly in developing countries.

According to the FAO (2021), about 100 countries produce cassava. Brazil accounts for 5.7% of world production and occupies the fifth position in the global ranking, behind Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand, and Ghana.

The crop is among the eight main agricultural products in the country in cultivated area and occupies the sixth position in production value. Approximately 40% of the roots are used for flour, 20% for starch, and the remainder for fresh consumption and animal feed.
Highlight at COP 30
The Tapajós Cassava Project was presented during the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), held from November 10 to 21, in Belém (PA). The exhibition took place in the UNAMAZ/BioTec-Amazônia Pavilion, in the Greenzone.

The project's actions benefit more than 300 families in 21 communities in municipalities in western Pará, such as Santarém, Mojuí dos Campos, Belterra, Óbidos, and Juruti.

“We carry out social technology transfer to productive cassava cultivation areas. Our focus is to promote food security, increase productivity, generate income, and strengthen the entire production chain for traditional communities,” explains Professor Eliandra.
The presentation at COP 30 also aimed to consolidate new partnerships that will allow for the expansion of the project. Among the next goals are: Strengthening and modernizing cassava flour mills, focusing on sustainable production; Increasing the supply of biofortified flour; Expanding the Maniva Tapajós project to new territories; Strengthening the project's technical and operational agenda.