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…
Employment pathways and business models that empower African youth engagement in agriculture
Unemployment remains a significant issue faced by young people worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in particular, the youth unemployment rate is 10.17% meaning that one in ten 15-24 year-olds cannot find work. Young women and vulnerable youth, in particular, face societal barriers that limit their job opportunities. Underemployment (i.e. not having a job that matches…
Plant clinics in Malawi: Reducing pest threats to increase crop yields and farmer incomes
Plant clinics in Malawi are empowering smallholder farmers to manage crop pests more effectively. In 2025, scientists published a paper in Plant Environment Interactions reviewing the impact of plant clinics on farmers in Malawi. The clinics have created a frontline support system for smallholders in remote, rural locations. In addition, they have helped to strengthen…
Plant health services in Ethiopia boosted through PlantwisePlus partnership
A strategic partnership with the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme has boosted plant health services in Ethiopia. Recently, a refresher course held in October delivered plant clinic training to 61 of the country’s plant doctors and plant health experts, a quarter of whom were women. CABI and the government of Ethiopia jointly delivered the three-day PlantwisePlus capacity-strengthening…
One Health in Burundi: Solving challenges to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health
This One Health Day, we look at the interconnected challenges and innovative solutions that shape the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems in Burundi. One Health in Burundi presents a solution to a complex set of challenges. This East African country faces health issues that threaten its people, livestock, and crops. Agriculture is the…
PlantwisePlus: Growing knowledge, skills and resilience across Vietnam
Across Vietnam’s rice paddies, coffee farms, and pepper plantations, CABI, in partnership with the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), is helping farmers protect their crops through the PlantwisePlus programme. In Vietnam, the programme supports smallholder farmers through plant clinics, digital tools, and advisory services, directly reaching over 51,500 farmers. Additionally, 2,946 enrolments in CABI…
Advancing gender-inclusive agricultural advisory services in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, agriculture forms the backbone of rural communities. It employs nearly two-thirds of the workforce, many of whom are women. However, the sector faces significant threats from plant health challenges, including devastating crop pests such as invasive fall armyworm. Moreover, the threats disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, especially women. At 58%, women make up an…
Meet Shahadul Islam: the rice farmer using digital tools to improve yield and quality
Meet Shahadul Islam, a farmer from Jhenaidah District, Bangladesh. Shahadul is now a local role model for sustainable rice production, having adopted the PlantwisePlus digital tools and transformed his farming practices. For nearly a decade, Shahadul cultivated rice on his one-acre land. He regularly faced pest and disease challenges such as rice blast and brown…
Building capacity for a resilient cassava seed system in Zambia
Cassava remains one of Zambia’s most important food security crops, but it is increasingly under threat from devastating diseases such as Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD).
Women farmers in Ghana empowered by radio campaign
Women farmers in Ghana face significant barriers to accessing agricultural extension services. Many women in low- and middle-income countries face similar challenges. The services are often designed for men and give them an advantage when it comes to farming productivity. Conversely, with a lack of access to extension services, women farmers on average produce 20-30%…