Using biocontrol-based integrated pest management to reduce pollinator loss
Pollinators, such as bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and some flies, play a crucial role in agricultural ecosystems by facilitating the reproduction of about 80% of our crops. Pollinators assure at least 30% of human’s food production. However, their populations have been heavily declining increasingly compromising food safety. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a more sustainable and…
How agro-dealer training in Uganda is reducing pesticide risks and making farming safer
Agro-dealers can play a critical role in sharing knowledge about pesticide safety and biopesticides. Misusing chemical pesticides harms farmers, consumers, animals and the environment. However, safe handling of pesticides and the use of nature-based alternatives help to reduce these risks. Nevertheless, many farmers lack access to relevant information. It has been estimated that less than…
Meet Florence Malemba, the virtual plant doctor reaching more farmers through video
Even from afar, it’s easy to spot Florence Malemba. She’s wearing a white lab coat labelled “Plant Doctor”, and a banner hangs behind where she’s organizing her equipment, ready to assist her farmer-patients of the day. Florence is setting up her plant clinic in Njoro, an agricultural town southwest of Nakuru City, Kenya.
5 reasons to increase gender-equal education in agriculture
In agriculture, a domain where women play a pivotal yet often underrepresented role, promoting gender-equal education is not just a matter of equity but also a catalyst for community advancement. International Women’s Day, recently celebrated, serves as a poignant reminder of the strides made and the challenges that remain in achieving gender equality across various…
Pakistan launches agri-journalist forum to promote sustainable farming
Pakistan’s media has taken a significant step towards raising awareness on pesticide risks and sustainable farming with the launch of the country’s first Agri-journalist forum. It came alongside a series of media interventions and awareness raising activities led by CABI’s PlantwisePlus programme. The forum aims to strengthen the flow of knowledge on sustainable farming and…
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…
PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank 2024 wrap up
As the new year begins, it’s time to take a look back at the highlights for the PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank in 2024 2024 in numbers In 2024 there were over 1.8 million visits to the PlantwisePlus Knowledge bank. That is a 3 fold increase in visits from 2023. People from 230 different countries used our…
From Crisis to Growth: 11 Lessons Learned Leading Agricultural Development in Burundi
My journey managing agricultural development projects in Burundi began in 2020, a year that will forever be etched in our memories due to the global pandemic. CABI ’s Plantwise program was launching in the country, thanks to funding from Nuffic (July 2020-March 2022), and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Bujumbura (November 2020-October…
The spray service provider using CABI digital tools to transform his business
A spray service provider is a trained professional who applies plant protection products to help farmers safeguard their crops—an essential role that 26-year-old Solomon Kariuki has turned into a thriving business in his rural community. In this feature, Solomon shares how the Crop Sprayer application has positively impacted his spray service business. In the ever-evolving…
The ‘plant’ doctor will see you now
This blog was originally published on Good Food Movement Until five years ago, M. Muthulakshmi, a farmer from Thoppupatti village in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, relied heavily on chemicals, including banned antibiotics like streptomycin, for her paddy crop. It was her go-to solution to treat bacterial blight, a deadly disease that affects crop yield. But, this…