From access to empowerment: the real impact of digital skills training on women farmers
Across low- and middle-income countries, the rapid expansion of digital technologies is reshaping agriculture. Yet for many women smallholder farmers, limited access to mobile phones, internet connectivity, and digital skills creates a persistent gender digital divide. In this 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer, it’s important to not only acknowledge the impacts of this divide on women’s productivity and incomes, decision-making power, market access, and resilience, but also to…
How can AI tools bridge the gender gap for women farmers?
AI tools have the potential to close the gender gap for women farmers. Women contribute around 40% of all agricultural labour but achieve around 23% less productivity compared to men. This is due to many constraints, from a lack of access to credit, inputs, and land, to gender norms that prevent women from accessing agricultural knowledge, skills, and tools.
Banana bunchy top disease: PlantwisePlus helps to safeguard Ghana’s banana production
Banana bunchy top disease can destroy entire harvests if left unchecked and currently poses a serious threat to Ghana’s banana and plantain production. Although the disease is not yet present in Ghana, PlantwisePlus is working on its early detection and prevention of arrival following the discovery of the disease in neighbouring countries. Last year, the…
In photos: how plant clinics support advisory services in Bangladesh
Over the past decade, CABI has worked in Bangladesh to strengthen national plant health systems, first through Plantwise and since 2021, PlantwisePlus. The programme works with partners to ensure farmers have access to reliable, science-driven crop health advisory services. Plant clinics and digital support platforms are helping with early detection, diagnosis, and management of crop…
5 ways digital agriculture tools are transforming pest management
Finding accurate, locally contextualised information at the right time is essential for tackling crop pests. Digital agriculture tools are helping farmers and those who advise them by putting expert knowledge directly in their hands.
PlantwisePlus develops agro-input dealer training scheme with Bangladesh government
Pest outbreaks in Bangladesh are causing a rapid increase in the sale of pesticides. Farmers are turning to chemical products such as fungicides, herbicides and insecticides to manage pests, which they often buy from their local agro-input dealer. However, these chemicals can harm the environment and human health. In Bangladesh, pesticide risks are significant due…
How PlantwisePlus and partners are supporting Assam’s agricultural future
From July to December last year, Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in Jorhat hosted a series of initiatives under the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme to strengthen plant health services and enhance crop productivity. Co-organized by CABI, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), and AAU, the events demonstrated how Integrated Pest Management (IPM) trainings, plant clinics, plant health…
What do agro-dealers in Nepal prefer when it comes to sustainability standards?
Agro-dealers in Nepal can play a pivotal role in reducing the risks associated with pesticide use, such as harm to human health and the environment. They are a key source of pest management advice for smallholder farmers. However, many lack access to accurate information about risk reduction and safer plant protection products. How can we implement better…
Crop Sprayer app helps young spray service providers build sustainable businesses
In Makueni County, Kenya, young spray service providers are transforming how smallholder farmers manage pests. The Crop Sprayer app, developed by CABI PlantwisePlus, is helping agripreneurs reduce pesticide risks through accurate dosage calculations, protecting farmer budgets, human health and the environment.
CABI Academy plant health management courses are helping to improve extension support
CABI Academy is a global learning hub for people who want to boost their expertise in agriculture under the CABI-led global programme, PlantwisePlus. Since 2020, it has been home to a range of interactive, self-paced online courses, including Crop Pest Diagnosis (CPD) and Crop Pest Management (CPM). Designed to strengthen learners’ skills in crop pest diagnosis and management, these two courses build valuable knowledge covering a wide range of pests, from plant…