How a tiny wasp can save the livelihoods of papaya farmers

“We have a problem with the attack of mealybugs, which are becoming a menace to the production of papayas. I fight them, but they are also fighting back.” Ben is a farmer in Machakos County, Kenya, east of the nation’s capital, Nairobi.
Read Further

CABI shares important new evidence on the legacy of Plantwise

A plant doctor holds broccoli crop with farmer pointing at it.
CABI has published a working paper assessing the legacy of Plantwise programmes in six countries: Nepal, Pakistan, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Jamaica. The paper, entitled Plantwise Sustainability: Two Years on, finds that the sustainability of a Plantwise programme hinges heavily on the country in question. This means that while it is difficult to engineer or…
Read Further

CABI partners with Kisii County and MESPT to train farmers on good agricultural practices in Kenya

Picture2
CABI, Kisii County Government and the Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), has trained farmers on good sustainable agricultural practices to address challenges facing the banana sector which is a key cash crop for smallholder farmers.
Read Further

Kenyan farmer perceptions of biological control of papaya mealybug

The papaya mealybug problem in Kenya The invasive papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) is a devastating pest to many crops, with a host range of over 200 plants. The species was first detected in Africa in 2010 in Ghana and then in 2016 in Mombasa County in Kenya. In Kenya, where horticulture makes up 60% of…
Read Further

Controlling the papaya mealybug pest – progress made in coastal Kenya

An initiative to combat the destructive papaya mealybug in Kenya is reaping rewards. A natural predator – a parasitic wasp – has been introduced to coastal counties to help control the pest. This tiny wasp is helping to prevent the damage caused by the mealybug. It’s not only helping to save papaya farms. It’s safeguarding…
Read Further

How has a ‘writeshop’ helped to address invasive apple snail in Kenya?

Invasive species, like apple snail, are a threat to food security. It’s important that they’re quickly managed before they start to spread. One of the best ways to do this is to share plant health knowledge with smallholder farmers. And writeshops are an excellent tool for gathering evidence-based information to do this. In this blog,…
Read Further

Empowering smallholder farmers in Kenya to produce sustainable safe food

Market Kenya
Smallholder farmers play a vital role in feeding communities around the world. In Kenya, the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme is making significant strides to enable these farmers to grow safe and high-quality foods through sustainable crop production.
Read Further

CABI trains young service providers to help smallholder mango farmers in Kenya produce quality goods for export

Picture1-1
CABI, under the PlantwisePlus programme, has trained more young service providers who will share their lessons learnt to help smallholder mango farmers in Kenya produce better quality goods for more profitable export markets.
Read Further

PlantwisePlus supports smallholder farmers in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, with better banana agronomy

The CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme has been supporting smallholder farmers in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, with training on better banana agronomy which can help them increase their livelihoods, crop yields and food security.
Read Further

Integrated Pest Management upskilling initiative benefits wider community in Nakuru, Kenya

Pheromone trap
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the tools for low-pesticide-input pest management. In the heart of Kenya’s Nakuru County, a PlantwisePlus initiative is underway. It aims to upskill and support women and young people to initiate agribusinesses that champion low-risk pest control products and practices. These micro-businesses provide employment for the trainees, while farmers…
Read Further