PlantwisePlus Blog

The practical plant doctor training sessions took place in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar (Photo: East-West Seed)

A new program in Myanmar has just produced its first group of ‘plant doctors’ – experts who can help farmers reduce their losses by diagnosing problems with their crops.
A total of 25 people took part in the high-level training program between 4 – 9 December 2017 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. By analyzing the farmers’ affected crops, the plant doctors are now able to provide an on-the-spot diagnosis of potential diseases, pests and disorders. They can then recommend actions on how to manage these in order to mitigate losses and improve yields.

The training was developed and managed under the Plantwise program, in cooperation between East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWSKT) and the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI). Plantwise is a CABI-led initiative that aims to increase food security and improve rural livelihoods by reducing crop losses.

The 25 new plant doctors are comprised of employees from EWS, Mercy Corps and officials from the Department of Agriculture and State Agriculture Institutes. Through the training, they were empowered to confidently and more accurately provide outreach through face-to-face farmer consultations. This is part of both CABI and EWS-KT’s goals of taking tried-and-tested research out into the fields to have a direct impact on farmers’ lives.

Reblogged from the East-West Seed blog. Read the original article here→