PlantwisePlus Blog

In Chitwan, Nepal, mobile plant clinics are helping smallholders by providing plant health advisory services to local farmers seeking help with crop pests and diseases.

IPM Farmers Association (JYSBKS) started the mobile plant clinic operation in collaboration with CABI. The inaugural session occurred in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, where plant doctors diagnosed plant health problems and provided practical solutions to the farmers. Mr Dandapadi Rizal, Ward No. 28 Chairman and advisor Rita Bastakoti from JYSBKS, officially opened the plant clinic session. Senior plant protection officer Dr Debraj Adhikari from the Plant Quarantine and Pesticides Management Centre and Rama Dhungana, the president of JYSBKS, attended the event. 

Addressing the challenges faced by Nepalese farmers

Farmers in Nepal face numerous threats to their livelihoods, including crop pests and diseases. Limited access to expert advice exacerbates farmers’ challenges. These issues are particularly pressing in rural areas, where smallholder and women farmers often struggle to find timely and accurate solutions. Plant clinics were designed to fill this gap by providing diagnostics and practical advice directly to farmers. By bringing expertise to the fields, these plant clinics help prevent crop loss, safeguard yields, and ultimately protect farmers’ incomes.

Link to PlantwisePlus programme

The plant clinics are a crucial component of the CABI PlantwisePlus initiative, helping to strengthen agricultural advisory services in Nepal. Since 2008, CABI has partnered with national and local governments and organizations to train extension officers as plant doctors. CABI equips these extension officers with the skills to diagnose crop issues and provide effective solutions. This collaboration with the IPM Farmer Association (JYSBKS) is an extension of that effort, leveraging the expertise of IPM farmer field school facilitators to serve as plant doctors to reach more farmers locally. The programme’s emphasis on building local capacity ensures that the knowledge gained is sustainable and can be passed on within the community.

Mobile plant clinics

The mobile plant clinics aim to empower farmers with the knowledge and solutions needed for sustainable agriculture. By offering immediate, tailored solutions to crop problems, the clinics help farmers manage pests and diseases more effectively. The clinics also strive to raise awareness of the importance of plant health, encouraging more farmers to seek expert advice when facing crop challenges.

Awareness of the programme was spread throughout the country via radio programs and social media channels.  

Outcomes of the mobile plant clinics

From May to August 2024, around twenty-six plant clinic sessions were conducted across various wards in Nepal’s  Chitwan, Makwanpur and Kavre districts. These clinics attracted over 655 farmers, with more than 1000 benefiting indirectly. The farmers brought samples of their problematic crops, ranging from paddy and okra to cucurbits and chillies, and received tailored advice on managing the pests and diseases.

The active participation of local leaders and government officials underscores the programme’s significance and fosters a sense of shared responsibility in safeguarding food security. The combined efforts of local governments, IPM associations, and plant doctors guarantee that these initiatives will make a lasting impact on plant health.

The Senior Plant Protection Officer, Dr Debraj Adhikari, emphasized the importance of local governments prioritizing plant clinic programmes, which are vital for addressing plant health problems. The chairman of Ward No. 28 in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Mr. Dandapadi Rizal, expressed his intention to incorporate plant clinics into the ward programme to assist the farmers in his jurisdiction.

Farmer feedback

Feedback from farmers attending the clinics has been extremely positive. Many have expressed great enthusiasm for the mobile plant clinics and the valuable plant health information they receive through them. There is now a good demand for clinics to be held regularly. As such, several local governments have promised to incorporate plant clinics into their ongoing local programmes.

Looking ahead: the path to sustainable agriculture

The collaboration between IPM Farmer Association (JYSBKS) and CABI continues to expand its reach, with plans to extend the programme to the Chitwan, Makwanpur, and Kavre districts. The success of the plant clinics not only provides immediate solutions to farmers’ plant health needs but also equips them with the knowledge to sustainably manage crops in the long term. As the programme grows, it promises to play a vital role in improving livelihoods, enhancing food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across Nepal’s rural communities. 

Further reading

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

PlantwisePlus

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).