How can AI tools bridge the gender gap for women farmers?
AI tools have the potential to close the gender gap for women farmers. Women contribute around 40% of all agricultural labour but achieve around 23% less productivity compared to men. This is due to many constraints, from a lack of access to credit, inputs, and land, to gender norms that prevent women from accessing agricultural knowledge, skills, and tools.
Banana bunchy top disease: PlantwisePlus helps to safeguard Ghana’s banana production
Banana bunchy top disease can destroy entire harvests if left unchecked and currently poses a serious threat to Ghana’s banana and plantain production. Although the disease is not yet present in Ghana, PlantwisePlus is working on its early detection and prevention of arrival following the discovery of the disease in neighbouring countries. Last year, the…
What do agro-dealers in Nepal prefer when it comes to sustainability standards?
Agro-dealers in Nepal can play a pivotal role in reducing the risks associated with pesticide use, such as harm to human health and the environment. They are a key source of pest management advice for smallholder farmers. However, many lack access to accurate information about risk reduction and safer plant protection products. How can we implement better…
CABI Academy plant health management courses are helping to improve extension support
CABI Academy is a global learning hub for people who want to boost their expertise in agriculture under the CABI-led global programme, PlantwisePlus. Since 2020, it has been home to a range of interactive, self-paced online courses, including Crop Pest Diagnosis (CPD) and Crop Pest Management (CPM). Designed to strengthen learners’ skills in crop pest diagnosis and management, these two courses build valuable knowledge covering a wide range of pests, from plant…
PlantwisePlus generating long-term impact and economic returns – here’s how
PlantwisePlus is changing lives. Today, Anthony Ssenyonga, 29, is an agro-input dealer, plant doctor, and entrepreneur in Uganda, but his story began very differently. Before his rise to digital agricultural champion, Anthony was a small-scale vegetable farmer, helping local households and schools to grow produce more cost-effectively. PlantwisePlus has played a transformative role in his…
Pesticide risks for farmers in Sri Lanka: The overlooked gender divide
This month marks International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’, calling for increased momentum and urgency to address gender barriers such as those to agricultural advice. Empowering women with knowledge and information enables them to reduce pesticide risks more effectively and swiftly. In this blog, we look at pesticide risks for women farmers in…