Ukulima True: Expanding pesticide risk reduction using a One Health approach
Ukulima True is a communications campaign that has helped to reduce pesticide risks among farmers in Kenya. Carried out under PlantwisePlus, it has reached a wide range of stakeholders, from smallholders and consumers to extension officers and policymakers. The campaign has shared practical advice to support social and behavioural change around pesticides, helping many people…
How IPM is helping Vietnam’s tomato farmers manage invasive tomato leafminer
Tomato farmers in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, are gaining practical knowledge on managing the invasive South American tomato leafminer. The pest, Phthorimaea absoluta (formerly Tuta absoluta), can be difficult to control once established. Through integrated pest management (IPM) and biological control approaches, farmers are learning how to manage the pest while reducing reliance on chemical…
Seeing the risk and speaking up: improving pesticide safety in Ghana
In Ahafo Ano North, Ghana, video-assisted community dialogues are moving pesticide education beyond one-way messaging. These videos are helping farmers, agro-input dealers, traders, and community leaders confront the pressures driving pesticide misuse. Together, they are identifying ways to reduce the risks.
Fall armyworm control starts with farmers, and collective action is key
Fall armyworm is a highly mobile crop pest that moves quickly between maize fields. Since it arrived in Africa, the pest has quickly spread across land managed by millions of smallholder farmers. The speed at which it moves makes its management complex. Rather than working independently, one field at a time, recent research from Zambia has…
Banana bunchy top disease prevention in Ghana – proactive strategies help reduce risks
Banana bunchy top disease is one of the most destructive banana and plantain diseases worldwide. Caused by a virus, it poses a considerable risk to commercial and smallholder farmers alike, causing yield losses of 2 to 12 tonnes per hectare and income losses of up to 100%. A recent CABI study estimated that farmer income losses range from US$289 to a substantial US$1,444 per…
How digital learning is helping students build practical plant health skills in Vietnam
At An Giang University (VNU-HCM) in Vietnam, lecturers are using CABI Academy courses alongside conventional teaching methods to help students develop practical plant health knowledge and skills. More than 400 students have enrolled, using the courses to support their laboratory work, field activities and independent study.
Agricultural service providers are transforming rural livelihoods – here’s how
Agricultural service providers play an important role in farming. In addition to offering support, they also help to fill gaps in public extension systems. They deliver services such as pest and plant health diagnosis and integrated pest management (IPM) advice. By working with local authorities, PlantwisePlus is helping to train local entrepreneurs to become trusted service providers.…
How partnerships are supporting pesticide risk reduction in Thailand
For many farmers, pesticides still play an important role in protecting their crops from pests and diseases and reducing losses. However, their misuse can pose serious risks to human health, the environment, and biodiversity. Reducing pesticide risks is more than just telling farmers about the risks. Farmers also need access to reliable advice, safer alternatives, and practical tools that help them…
PlantwisePlus and pesticide risk reduction – why changing minds, not just rules, reduces risks
Findings from Kenya and Pakistan suggest that reducing risks from pesticides depends not only on awareness and information sharing, but on addressing the underlying motivations that shape farmers’ pest management decisions Pesticides can cause harm to human, animal, and environmental health. The UNEP’s Environmental and Health Effects of Pesticide Use report states that the use…
Papaya mealybug biocontrol boosts farmers’ incomes in Kenya and Uganda
Papaya mealybug is a devastating invasive polyphagous pest. This means it can feed on many different plants, making it a greater threat to plant health. In East Africa, it causes yield losses of 57-91% and annual household economic losses of up to £2,224/ha. Managing it effectively can help to save papaya harvests and safeguard farmer livelihoods. Around half of the farmers in the…