PlantwisePlus Blog

CABI, in collaboration with the Agriculture Development Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management (MoALM), Gandaki province, Nepal, recently conducted a two-day training on Monitoring Plant Clinic Performance (MPCP). This crucial training was designed to enhance the quality of plant clinics, recognizing the pivotal role of plant doctors in providing accurate advice and quality recommendations to farmers.

The MPCP training, with its primary focus on the quality of the plant clinics, is an important step in ensuring that plant doctors provide accurate recommendations. This regular monitoring is not just a quality control measure for the plant clinic but also vital support for plant doctors in providing reliable advice to smallholder farmers. 

Key stakeholders attended the training

The training was held at Hotel Kausi, Pokhara, on July 24th and 25th, 2024. Twenty-one key officials and plant doctors from the MoALM, Agriculture Development Directorate, Plant Protection Laboratory (PPL), Prime Minister Agricultural Modernisation Project (PMAMP), Agriculture Knowledge Centres (AKCs) of different districts, and Caritas (an NGO) attended the event.

Leading the charge were Dr Debraj Adhikari, Senior Plant Protection Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre, Lalitpur, and Mr. Shalik Ram Adhikari, Chief, Plant Protection Laboratory, Pokhara. They, along with CABI country coordinator Dr Mahesh H M, served as the resource personnel for the training, sharing their expertise and insights. 

Addressing key challenges to plant clinic performance

The training aimed to address several challenges:

• Ensuring the accuracy and quality of diagnosis and advice given by plant doctors.
• Improving the organizational aspects of plant clinics, including staff attitude, communication, and the use of materials and equipment.
• Enhancing the timeliness and regularity of plant clinic operations.
• Expanding the coverage and access of plant clinics to reach more farmers.

Regular monitoring is essential

It is vital to regularly monitor plant clinics for quality improvement and to support plant doctors in providing accurate advice to smallholder farmers. 

This recent training aimed to

• Set clear objectives for monitoring plant clinic performance.
• Ensure plant clinic data is submitted to the Plantwise Online Management System.
• Train participants in the effective use of plant clinic data for monitoring and improvement.
• Ensure quality diagnosis and advice from plant doctors.

Key outcomes for plant clinic performance in Nepal

Participants worked together to define performance criteria that were aligned with CABI’s standards, such as diagnosis quality and clinic organization. The training improved data analysis skills and practical assessments, boosting support for smallholder farmers.

By focusing on key performance criteria and effectively using plant clinic data, PlantwisePlus aims to enhance the quality of services provided by plant clinics. This, in turn, helps identify emerging pests and diseases, understand their impact, and assess the need for further training and support for plant doctors.

What’s next?

• Cluster meetings: Facilitate knowledge sharing and monitor clinic progress.
• Data management: Ensure effective use of the Plantwise Online Management System (POMS).
• Ongoing training: Continue partner-led sessions to refine plant doctor skills.

Since its inception, the plant clinic programme in Nepal has played a crucial role in assisting farmers by diagnosing crop issues and providing management recommendations to help increase their livelihoods and local food security.

This training strengthens plant clinics, enabling them to provide timely, accurate support to farmers and address emerging plant health issues.

Find out more

Government approved document provides firm guidelines for the operation of Nepal’s plant clinics nationwide

Nepal National Forum stresses collaborative actions for strengthening plant clinics

Role of plant clinics in Nepal highlighted at 10th International Plant Protection Symposium

Support for smallholders in Nepal – are community business facilitators the answer?

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PlantwisePlus gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands; European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA, EU); the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom; and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Images courtesy of authors.