Case Study

A simple stem multiplication tunnel drives significant changes in cassava agriculture across Southeast Asia

author(s)

Delaquis, Erik

themes
  • Crops for nutrition and health
regions
  • Cambodia
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
original file download
full citation

Delaquis, E.; Newby, J.; Malik, I.; Youabee, L.; Sok, S.; Khanthavong, P.; Nhan, P.T.; Rithea, M.; Chhourn, O. (2026) A simple stem multiplication tunnel drives significant changes in cassava agriculture across Southeast Asia. Study ASI-2590. Rome (Italy): Bioversity International; Cali (Colombia): International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). 3 p.

Between 2021 and 2025, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT developed and scaled a low-cost rapid multiplication (tunnel) system for producing disease-free cassava planting material across Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. Designed to reduce the spread of diseases such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava witches’ broom through infected stem cuttings, the innovation strengthened regional seed systems, accelerated dissemination of disease-resistant varieties, and improved smallholder resilience and productivity through scalable, locally managed infrastructure and capacity building.