Overcoming gender barriers to tomato farming in Pakistan
Tomato is an important crop in Pakistan – every year, the country produces 4.2 million tonnes of tomatoes. Growing them can be labour intensive. But research shows that tomato production has the potential to generate good incomes for rural smallholders. This includes incomes for women farmers. In Pakistan, women account for over 60% of active…
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.
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.
Apply now: Online integrated crop management courses run by CABI and the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Integrated crop management combines local knowledge with new research and technologies. It provides a whole-farm approach that encompasses all of the relevant socio-economic and environmental factors.
Benefits of the PlantwisePlus digital tools presented in Nepal
CABI introduced the benefits of the PlantwisePlus digital tools and CABI Digital Library during a symposium in Nepal this April. Titled, “CABI Digital Library- A Suite of Tools for Plant Health System”, the event presented the tools and how they can help strengthen plant health systems.
Why plant health matters
Why is plant health so important? Plants account for 80% of what we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe. They are essential for food security and a healthy world. Better plant health could help end hunger, alleviate poverty, protect biodiversity, and boost economic development. Yet, our planet’s plant health is under threat.
Integrated rodent management: rice production
Rodents are a particularly challenging pest in the rice production industry as they are a problem all the way from sowing to harvest. The rice field rat (Rattus argentiventer) causes average losses of 10-20% in rice growing areas. Ranking as the most important non-weed pest in Indonesia for 15 years up until 2000. Integrated Pest…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (20 April 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 on onion seedlings caused by Globisporangium irregulare in South Korea, and the first report of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus infecting muskmelon (Cucumis melo) in…
Plant doctor training improves Rwandan farmers’ access to plant health advice
A six-day Plantwise plant doctor training session took place in Rwanda this March. Funded by CABI, the training aimed to build the capacity of Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) staff in the diagnosis of crop pest problems, and providing advice to farmers.
Taro caterpillar outbreak in central India
The Taro caterpillar (Spodoptera litura), is a pest of many crops across Asia and Oceania. This species is generally well-controlled by natural enemies. Therefore, outbreaks in India’s Madhya Pradesh over the past two years are particularly notable.