Agricultural digitalization: Opportunities and challenges discussed at workshop in India
Authors: Dr R. Rajkumar, Principal scientist, (MSSRF) and Akanksha Nagpal, Manju Thakur (CABI) Digital tools have the potential to improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, and adaptability. Alongside longtime partners, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), CABI recently participated in a workshop hosted by the Resilience Project. The workshop, entitled “Digitalization of Agriculture: Current Challenges, Responses and Opportunities…
Digital innovation: integrating PlantwisePlus digital tools in Bangladesh
PlantwisePlus is developing and updating various digital tools for decision support and learning. In Bangladesh, these digital decision-support tools enable farmer advisors to serve farmers more effectively.
CABI facilitates Pest Risk Assessment writeshop in Nepal
Last month, CABI delivered technical support in a two-day pest risk assessment writeshop for plant quarantine officers in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre (PQPMC) which serves as National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Nepal organized the writeshop.
Simulation app for improved plant-health diagnosis skills
CABI’s simulation app Pest Diagnostic Simulator allows users to test their plant pest and disease investigation and diagnosis skills through multiple scenarios, reinforcing investigation and diagnosis skills through engaging gameplay and real-time feedback.
Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease – the invasive threatening maize
Maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) was first identified in Peru in 1973. Since then, the disease has spread rapidly to other parts of Latin America and the USA. In Africa, the disease was first reported in Kenya in 2011. By 2014, it had spread to other countries in East Africa including Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan,…
E-plant clinics pilot launched in Bangladesh
Plantwise programme was launched in Bangladesh with Plant Protection Wing (PPW), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in 2015 after signing MOU with Ministry of Agriculture and Economic Relations Division of Ministry of Finance. The programme initially started with establishment of 10 plant clinics in 5 districts and is gradually scaled up to 30 plant clinics…
Expanding our e-plant clinic network in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan e-plant clinic pilot, which launched in 2015 at 10 clinics in Central Province, was extremely successful in minimizing the time as well as workload of plant doctors performing data management tasks. As a result of these and various other benefits established over the last 2 years, the e-plant clinic network has been scaled up…
Our favourite recipes – India
As part of our new mini-series, “Our favourite recipes”, here is the next delicious recipe for you to try from India. Baingan Bharta (Roasted mashed brinjals cooked with onions, tomatoes, green chillies and ginger) is one of the most popular dishes in India. Brinjal (aubergine/eggplant) is an important ingredient of the recipe.
Plantwise: connecting smallholders to knowledge through ICT interventions
The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the last decade has opened new avenues in knowledge management that could play important roles in meeting the prevailing challenges related to sharing, exchanging and disseminating knowledge and technologies. The types of ICT-enabled services are capable of improving the capacity and livelihoods of poor smallholders are…
How plant clinics helped a paddy farmer in Tamil Nadu, India
Guest blog contributed by MSSRF Mr Natarajan and his family farm 5 acres of irrigated land in Neduvasal village in Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu. Like his father before him, he cultivates paddy, ground nut and pulses during the Kharif, Rabi and summer seasons. He has been growing BPT 5204 paddy, a super fine Ponni variety during the Samba season (October-January). …