CABI joins Koppert to reduce the reliance on chemical use in pest management in Kenya

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CABI has initiated activities with Koppert Biological Systems to increase the fight against crop pests and diseases which threaten the food security and livelihoods of thousands of farmers and their families in Kenya. CABI has signed a collaboration agreement with Koppert to deliver more Plantwise plant doctor training in Kenya, with funding from the Koppert Foundation. This includes plans to…
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Why African farmers should balance pesticides with other control methods

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By Esther Ndumi Ngumbi. Reblogged from The Conversation. Insect pests cause almost half of the crop losses in Africa. If the continent is to feed its growing population, farmers must find ways to control them. Pests account for high losses in other developing regions too. For smallholder farmers in particular, pest management needs to be affordable, safe…
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How does communication and its technical content shape farmer responses to plant clinic advice?

A recent study led by CABI and published in International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, explores how communication and its technical content shape farmers’ response to advice delivered at plant clinics. How willing were farmers to accept or reject the technologies recommended at plant clinic consultations? And what were the reasons? The research was carried out…
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Plant Doctors in Vietnam go digital

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Plant clinics in Vietnam have received a major boost with the introduction of digital devices to facilitate the work of plant doctors. The use of tablets and smartphones has been proven to help plant doctors improve the quantity and quality of data generated from plant clinic operations. With improved ICTs, the captured data from plant…
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Empoderamiento de la mujer a través de las clínicas de planta del Perú

Autor: Eduardo Augusto Neves Reconocimiento a: Marieta Cervantes y Fernando Escobal, INIA Baños del Inca Ing. Marieta Eliana Cervantes Peralta, doctora de plantas de la estaciĂłn experimental de INIA ‘Baños del Inca’ en Cajamarca, PerĂş, conoce bien la realidad de las mujeres rurales. Hija de campesinos, viviĂł su niñez y adolescencia en una comunidad rural…
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Why intersectionality is key to women’s empowerment in agriculture

Women play a critical and potentially transformative role in agricultural growth in developing countries, but they face persistent obstacles and economic contraints which limit their full inclusion in agriculture. The FAO suggest that closing the gender gap in access to productive resources could increase agricultural output in the developing world by 2.5-4%, reducing the number…
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We need to involve more women in the agricultural sciences. Here's how.

By Jemimah Njuki. Reblogged from devex. “I would like to see the scientist working on beans; do you know where I can find him?” I got asked this question more times that I could count. As a young female African researcher working in Malawi for an international agriculture research organization, my office was the first in…
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Robert Reeder on Protecting Banana Crops

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“Bananas, along with lots of crop plants are under threat from pests and diseases. The reason that bananas are particularly threatened is their lack of genetic diversity.” Listen to CABI’s very own Rob Reeder talk to Greg Peterson on this podcast from The Urban Farm. Rob talks in detail about the increasing threat to the…
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Plant doctor workshop in Hangzhou, China, raises awareness of Plantwise training

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A recent awareness raising workshop for the plant doctor training of Plantwise was held at the Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU) in Hangzhou in Eastern China. The meeting was aimed at raising awareness among university students, the private sector, and plant protection experts about plant doctor training and certification. About 70 participants were present…
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Developing pest-smart farmers in Cambodia

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In Rohal Suong Climate-Smart Village, adoption of ecological engineering practices has improved farmers’ ability to prevent pests and diseases outbreaks while reducing pesticides use. Every year, a great portion of Cambodian farmers’ income is at risk because of possible pests and diseases (P&D) outbreak. Aside from the inadequate knowledge of farmers, climate change aggravates the…
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