“The health of plants, animals, people and the environment is interlinked in so many ways”
Without healthy crops, food systems crumble, livelihoods suffer, and communities become more vulnerable to food insecurity. PlantwisePlus supports countries in strengthening plant health systems and improving food quality, quantity, and security. Plant clinics are central to this approach, providing farmers with diagnosis and treatment advice for any crop problem.
Meet Florence Malemba, the virtual plant doctor reaching more farmers through video
Even from afar, it’s easy to spot Florence Malemba. She’s wearing a white lab coat labelled “Plant Doctor”, and a banner hangs behind where she’s organizing her equipment, ready to assist her farmer-patients of the day. Florence is setting up her plant clinic in Njoro, an agricultural town southwest of Nakuru City, Kenya.
The spray service provider using CABI digital tools to transform his business
A spray service provider is a trained professional who applies plant protection products to help farmers safeguard their crops—an essential role that 26-year-old Solomon Kariuki has turned into a thriving business in his rural community. In this feature, Solomon shares how the Crop Sprayer application has positively impacted his spray service business. In the ever-evolving…
Piloting a CABI crop health advisory chatbot
Last year, CABI’s Digital Development team, in coordination with colleagues in Kenya and India, embarked on a journey to pilot an agri-advisory chatbot. This initiative was informed by prior stakeholder engagement activities under the Generative AI for Agriculture Advisory (GAIA) project, where key insights were gathered to ensure generative AI tools meet the needs of…
Bolivia’s plant clinics help train the next generation of agricultural advisors
Este blog también está disponible en español. Farmers in Bolivia face significant challenges, including diverse climate conditions, limited access to water, and crop pests and diseases. These issues are further compounded by rural labour shortages as young people migrate to urban areas, leaving fewer hands to sustain traditional farming practices. Access to agricultural advice and…
Las clínicas de plantas de Bolivia ayudan a formar la próxima generación de asesores agrícolas
Los agricultores de Bolivia frecuentemente deben enfrentar los retos impuestos por las condiciones climáticas adversas, el acceso limitado al agua y el ataque de plagas y enfermedades en sus cultivos. Estos problemas se ven agravados por la escasez de mano de obra rural, ya que los jóvenes emigran a las zonas urbanas, dejando menos manos…
Chilli black thrips outbreak: supporting Indian farmers to protect crops sustainably
Outbreaks of Thrips parvispinus, commonly known as chilli black thrips or Southeast Asian thrips, are causing challenges for smallholder farmers in India. These tiny, dark-coloured invasive pests are responsible for considerable economic losses, particularly for growers who rely on chilli crops as a primary source of income. Chilli black thrips are notorious for their aggressive…
Gender equality and youth inclusion: ten focus areas for impact
UN Women recently published The Gender Snapshot 2024. While the report highlighted some positive developments, no indicator under SDG Goal 5, Gender Equality, has been achieved. Women comprise around 43% of the agricultural workforce in low- and middle-income countries. However, their responsibilities and capacity are too often diluted by gender inequalities. Breaking down the barriers to women…
How PlantwisePlus and Grameen Foundation are driving change for women farmers in India
In India, women farmers play a crucial role in agriculture, contributing significantly to activities like seed production, sowing, weeding, transplanting, threshing, and harvesting. Despite making up a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce, their access to advisory services is limited. Many agricultural services do not cater to their specific needs, resulting in a gap between…
Human-centred design workshop in India helps shape PlantwisePlus digital tools
Smallholder farmers rely on extension services and other agricultural service providers for effective advisory information. To serve the broad needs of farmers, advisors need access to decision-support information. Digital tools can offer many advantages to advisors, such as providing easy access to relevant information and improving decision-making.