A survey of major constraints associated with sugarcane production in Northern Guinea Savannah Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum family Poaceae, is a perennial grass grown for its stem (cane) which is primarily used to produce sucrose. Three landraces: purple, white and green cane are mainly cultivated by commercial farmers in Northern Guinea Savannah region (NGS) of Nigeria. Survey was conducted to determine the cropping system, viruses as well as other abnormalities associated with sugarcane fields in Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states across the northern guinea savannah region of Nigeria. Eighty three percent (83%) of growers interviewed practice monocropping while the remaining intercropped sugarcane with maize, sorghum, pepper and tomato for economic reasons. Sugarcane is grown via seed cane rather than ratoon by 80 % of growers because ratoon harbors more diseases and requires more fertilizer. Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV); Potyvirus, Sugarcane chlorotic streak virus (SCSV), Maize streak virus (MSV); mastrevirus and Maize yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV); polerovirus are the viruses diagnosed infecting and causing yield losses in sugarcane in the surveyed regions. Potyvirus (SCMV) recorded the highest disease prevalence of 64% followed by mastrevirus (MSV and SCSV). Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) was not detected in the areas surveyed. Another important disease naturally infecting sugarcane in the surveyed region is smut disease caused by a fungal pathogen, Sporisorium scitamineum. Insect pests associated with sugarcane fields include aphids, leafhoppers, grasshoppers and termites. Rats and millipede infestation were also recorded, inadequate irrigation facilities, poor extension services to farmers and theft were reported as additional problems to sugarcane cultivation in the regions.