Addressing Cassava Brown Streak Disease in Zambia
Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) was officially reported in Zambia for the first time in 2018. It is a viral disease that causes hard rots in cassava roots and can result in substantial yield losses. It gets its name from the brown streaks that form on the stem.
Empowering young men and women through agricultural skilling in Uganda
Youth unemployment continues to be a pressing issue in Uganda, particularly among secondary school graduates. The lack of job opportunities not only affects individuals but also poses challenges to the overall development of society, writes Harrison Rware, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and Caroline Aliamo, Projects Officer, based at CABI’s regional centre for Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (07 June 2023)
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 report of Dothiorella gregaria associated with fruit rot of walnuts in India, and the discovery of three new species of Botryosphaeriales isolated from diseased plant branches in China.
Pest risk training to help detect Pakistan’s potential invaders
A pest risk tools training for PlantwisePlus partners and stakeholders recently took place in Pakistan. The CABI-organised session covered the Horizon Scanning and Pest Risk Analysis platforms. Growing globalisation, trade and in particular, the international movement of plant commodities, increase the risk of the spread of plant pests. Introduced pests can lower crop yields and…
More trainers of KS1758 – Horticultural Code of Practice to reach more farmers in Kenya
CABI – through the PlantwisePlus programme – has assisted deliver a trainer of trainers training to help farmers meet the KS1758 Horticultural Code of Practice. CABI’s regional centre for Africa, based in Nairobi, collaborated with the KS1758 code’s implementation committee (SIC) to deliver the Trainer of Trainers (ToT) training to 12 people in a bid…
Pesticide risk reduction tackled at behaviour change workshop in Kenya
Pesticide overuse and misuse pose a risk to farmers, consumers, and the environment. Chemical pest control is a major source of pollution, leading to water and soil contamination. Moreover, pesticides can enter the food chain through residues on crops, jeopardising food safety.
Conserving biodiversity: biocontrol for sustainable agriculture
Can biocontrol help protect biodiversity? Biodiversity refers to all the living things on Earth, including how they interact with each other. A rich biodiversity means a healthy planet.
Pesticides in tea: How can we manage tea pests more naturally, avoiding harmful chemicals?
On International Tea Day, we look at how we can reduce pesticides in tea. Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world, after water. It’s estimated that people drink around three billion cups every day. But tea plantations are under threat from pests, and farmers must find effective ways to stop them.…
Radio campaign seeks to break down barriers to gender-equitable agricultural extension services
CABI is joining forces with Farm Radio International to roll out a behaviour change communication (BCC) campaign to try and help break down the barriers to gender equitable agricultural extension services in Ghana.
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (09 May 2023)
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 report of root rot of Dendropanax trifidus caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Korea, and a description of three new species and one new genus in American acanthocinini.