Knowledge to improve food security
May 22, 2013 Leave a comment
The latest Plantwise newsletter is here. Click ‘Read more’ to find out about the launch of Plantwise in Ghana, discussions on greater collaboration between CABI and agricultural stakeholders in Myanmar, support for Plantwise from the European Union, and developments in the Knowledge Bank.
May 21, 2013 Leave a comment
There are many ways that data from plant clinics can inform agricultural activities. Clinic data can be used to identify the distribution of major crops and diseases, and help to flag up new and emerging pests and diseases. These data can also contribute to the monitoring of the quality of advice given to farmers at plant clinics, and be used to determine what additional training plant doctors might need.
The Plantwise Online Management System will enable plant health stakeholders to view analyses of their plant clinic data © CABI
CABI Country Coordinators and EU Resource Staff for several Plantwise countries gathered in Egham, UK for a two-day course on data management, facilitated by the Plantwise Knowledge Bank team. The course emphasised the importance of collecting good quality data from the plant clinics, and managing it effectively within the country, so that this can provide information to farmers, extension workers, researchers, and other plant health stakeholders.
April 23, 2013 Leave a comment
Contributed by Jane Frances Asaba and Joseph Mulema, both CABI Africa, and Phil Taylor, CABI Egham-UK
Plantwise has been operating in Uganda for 8 years, throughout which progress in setting up plant clinics with partners has been slow but steady. Recently, things are really taking off; extension workers being instructed to attend courses by their superiors, and their role as plant doctors is becoming part of their expected duties. Read more of this post
April 2, 2013 Leave a comment
Participants at the first Plant Health Rally to take place in Santa Cruz, Bolivia © CABI UK
To read more about the work Plantwise is doing in Bolivia follow this link. To read Spanish factsheets specific to Bolivia on the Plantwise Knowledge Bank click here.
March 21, 2013 Leave a comment
CABI country coordinator briefed Plantwise program to the Dean of Agriculture Faculty, Baghlan University, Afghanistan
Muhammad Faheem, CABI Country coordinator for Plantwise Afghanistan travelled to Baghlan province north of Kabul, which has great agriculture potential. Six plant doctors, belonging to Plantwise partners DAIL, AKF and Baghlan University were recently trained in how to become plant doctors. Introductory meetings Between Plantwise and implementing partners were held to set up the future plan of operation for three plant clinics in the area. Read more of this post
March 18, 2013 2 Comments
Workshop opening ceremony included words from (l-r) Dr Victor Clottey, Dr Entsua-Mensah, Dr Samuel Kojo Dapaah and Morris Akiri © CABI
Plantwise, a global initiative run by CABI, was launched in Accra, Ghana last week. The initiative involves establishing plant clinics, which farmers can attend to get advice on plant health from trained plant doctors. In addition to the knowledge they acquire through the training programmes, these plant doctors can make use of the Plantwise Knowledge Bank which provides up-to-date information to best advise the farmer.
Following the launch, a review and planning workshop took place for stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The event attracted policy makers, extension workers, plant protection officers and researchers as well as private sector and non-governmental agencies who were all keen to share their knowledge and ideas on how to develop Plantwise activities in the country. Read more of this post
March 11, 2013 Leave a comment
A plant clinic in Uganda © RIC-NET
This article is adapted from a post on the Rwenzori Information Centres Network blog.
In a bid to create awareness about plant clinics in Uganda, Plantwise organized a one day sensitization workshop at Lesuiex Centre in Kabarole District about improving food security and the lives of smallholder farmers in Uganda.
February 8, 2013 1 Comment
Agrobacterium on Sorrel
The Sorrel plant (left) was one of those found by the trainees during the recent training in Module 1 of how to be a plant doctor. The plant doctor training uses live plant material as well we photographs to lead the trainees through the process of field diagnosis.
The large and hard beige lump at the base of the stem is a gall caused by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The unique thing about this host/ pathogen interaction is the fact that DNA from the bacterium is inserted into the plant where it remains even long after the bacteria have been removed. This is the only natural example of DNA transfer of this kind; a natural genetic engineer.
February 1, 2013 Leave a comment
A farmer getting advice at a plant clinic in Nepal © Dannie Romney/CABI UK
To read more about plant clinics in Nepal and to watch a video of a plant clinic in action, click here.
To find out more about plant pests and diseases in Nepal visit the Plantwise Pest Distribution map
January 30, 2013 1 Comment
Top officials in Fort Portal receiving details of Plantwise
The recent awareness raising exercise that took place in Fort Portal in the west of Uganda was a roaring success. The key to extending Plantwise in Uganda was to involve the Chief Administrative officers, District Agricultural officers and the NAADS coordinator of each of the districts. The extension service in Uganda is mostly decentralised with the local government officials having a great say in both the budget and the implementation of extension.
Jane Asaba and Joseph Mulema (CABI Uganda) together with Phil Taylor (CABI UK) set off to the west of the country to promote Plantwise to districts of the Western region. They were accompanied by Kanakulya Luswata and Steven Mabira experienced plant doctors from Buikwe and Mukono The ministry (MAAIF) was represented by Benius Tukahirwa. Read more of this post
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