Can Uganda’s agro-dealers become champions of sustainable pest control?

The global surge in pesticide use has helped to increase agricultural productivity. However, it has also raised alarms about the risks they pose to health and the environment. In many low- and middle-income countries, agro-input dealers (commonly called agro-dealers) play a central role in supplying farmers with inputs such as fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. They…
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Youth Skills Day: empowering and supporting young people in agriculture

Young farmer
To mark Youth Skills Day, Deogratius Magero, CABI’s Youth Engagement Manager for Africa, discusses why youth skills development programmes are vital for food security.
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Empowering young men and women through agricultural skilling in Uganda

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Youth unemployment continues to be a pressing issue in Uganda, particularly among secondary school graduates. The lack of job opportunities not only affects individuals but also poses challenges to the overall development of society, writes Harrison Rware, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and Caroline Aliamo, Projects Officer, based at CABI’s regional centre for Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Helping to ensure greater food security through the eyes of a young farmer and plant doctor

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Dr Dennis Rangi, CABI’s Director General, Development based at its regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, wrote a thought leadership article as part of International Youth Day. He said that a ‘revolution’ in agribusiness involving Africa’s youth is required so they can capitalise on the sector’s contribution to around 25% of the continent’s Gross…
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Aflatoxins, rabies and misuse of pesticides and animal health drugs are top ‘One Health’ issues at joint crop-livestock focused clinics in Uganda

Joint-clinic
Aflatoxins, rabies and misuse of pesticides and drugs are among the top issues prioritised to be addressed at joint crop-livestock clinics set up to help improve the health and livelihoods of smallholder farming families in Uganda.
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Crop-Livestock clinics in Uganda – One Health in practice

Animal waiting to be attended to at a crop–livestock clinic
One Health appr­­­oach to crop and livestock care in Uganda benefits hundreds of farmers The pandemic fundamentally changed the way we see health. Strong evidence points to COVID-19 originating in bats, and that connection has made us re-think the link between animal and human health. Moreover, the threat of climate change and pollution is forcing…
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Could biocontrol solve the papaya mealybug problem for Ugandan farmers?

Papaya mealybug on fruit
Papaya mealybug, Paraccous margniatus, is native to Central America but has spread rapidly in invaded countries. It was detected in Uganda in 2021 where it has the potential to affect the production and quality of papaya and other host crops.
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5 ways that youth agricultural training benefits young people in Uganda

Youth agricultural training is bringing hope to young people in Uganda. Here, youth unemployment is a significant crisis. Around 70% of unemployed people are youths. There are ample job opportunities in the agriculture sector. However, many youths lack the skills they need to secure careers in farming.
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Plant Health Rallies benefit farmers in Uganda

Ugandan farmer
CABI has conducted a study into Plant Health Rallies in Uganda and the positive impact they have on farmers’ plant health management knowledge, attitudes and practices. The study looks at what factors enhance or hinder farmer attendance at rallies, as well as how advice received is applied.
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Plantwise successes revealed in Impact Story Competition

The successes of smallholder farmers in Nepal, Uganda and Kenya – thanks to help from CABI – have become the focus of the Plantwise Impact Story Competition won by three extension workers who helped them combat crop pests and diseases. Debraj Adhikari, a Senior Plant Protection Officer from Nepal, plant doctor Mubunga Joshua from Uganda…
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