Better Cotton Initiative: biocontrol training in India
India is the world’s largest producer of cotton. It is one of the country’s major cash crops with nearly 6 million farmers making a living from growing cotton. The Better Cotton Initiative helps make cotton farming a more climate-resilient, environmentally friendly and responsible business. Working with smallholders, farm workers and communities, the Better Cotton Initiative…
Evidence note highlights impacts and management strategies for Cassava Brown Streak Disease in Zambia
A new evidence note published by CABI is highlighting the impacts and management strategies for Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) in Zambia, which threatens cassava yields – a staple crop for nearly six million Zambians.
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (8 July 2022)
We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include two new species of Plasmopara affecting wild grapes in the USA and the first report of rust disease on Potentilla indica caused by Phragmidium duchesneae in Japan.
Plant doctor training: a student’s perspective
Swagata Saikia, a PhD Scholar in Plant Pathology, recently participated in a Plant Doctor training course. Here Swagata talks about her experiences during the course. One fine day, I arrived at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Titabor, along with five of my friends for a training course entitled “Becoming a Plant Doctor”. Other PhD students,…
Bean fly – how to recognize, prevent and manage this common legume pest
This article was originally published on the CABI BioProtection Portal blog. Visit the original blog post here. Bean fly is a destructive pest of most food legumes, particularly common bean, cowpea, mungbean, blackgram, lima bean and soybean. Symptoms include yellow areas on leaf surfaces, leaf drop, lined marks on leaves and swollen and split stems.
Plantwise: helping female farmers in Nepal access advisory services
In almost all regions of Nepal, women have a greater involvement than men in farming activities. The World Bank estimates that 74% of Nepalese women work in agriculture, yet they struggle to have equal access to agricultural resources. A new study highlights gender integration in the Plantwise programme and identifies the strengths and limitations in Nepal. It focuses…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (7 June 2022)
We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include the first record of Dendrothele nivosa on Savin juniper in the Balkans and the first confirmed record of Acarus siro in Brazil.
4 pests and diseases of maize
Maize is an important crop, grown by smallholder farmers around the world. It is a staple food in the diets of millions and is vital for food and economic security. However, there are a number of pests and diseases that attack maize and limit yields. Below we outline four pests and diseases of maize and…
International Day of Plant Health helps highlight CABI’s work to fight devastating crop pests
International Day of Plant Health – recently established by the United Nations and welcomed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – is a timely reminder of the devastating impact of crop pests, writes Dr Ulli Kuhlmann, PlantwisePlus Programme Executive and Executive Director, Global Operations at CABI.
Selecting the right biopesticide or biocontrol product for your needs
This article was originally published on the CABI BioProtection Portal blog. Visit the original blog post here. Choosing a biopesticide or biocontrol product for managing a pest is about asking the right questions. Below we have compiled a simple list that will help you make the right choice, with the CABI BioProtection Portal to support and guide you.