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…
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Safer pesticide use: Voluntary standard for agro-dealers launched in China

On December 26, 2024, Sichuan Province launched a significant initiative: the “Establishment Specification for IPM Promotion Pesticide Stores.” Written in collaboration with local partners and PlantwisePlus, including CABI’s Dr Min Wan, this new voluntary standard aims to reform agro-shop operations in China. Starting January 1, 2025, it promotes safer pesticide use aligned with Integrated Pest…
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Most read blogs of 2024

Image of Papayas, ready to sell. Our Common Papaya Disorders: A Comprehensive Guide one of our most-read blog posts this year.
As 2024 comes to a close, we’ve tallied the numbers to reveal the most read blogs on the PlantwisePlus Blog this year—plus a few firm favourites! Our most read blogs cover crop pest guides, digital tools, and biocontrols for invasive species, highlighting the impactful work we do with smallholder farmers, policymakers, and communities. Did any…
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Chilli black thrips outbreak: supporting Indian farmers to protect crops sustainably

Green chillies
Outbreaks of Thrips parvispinus, commonly known as chilli black thrips or Southeast Asian thrips, are causing challenges for smallholder farmers in India. These tiny, dark-coloured invasive pests are responsible for considerable economic losses, particularly for growers who rely on chilli crops as a primary source of income. Chilli black thrips are notorious for their aggressive…
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CABI calls for gender equality for rural women in Pakistan 

Every year, Rural Women’s Day is celebrated on 15 October. It recognizes the valuable contributions that women living in rural communities make to agriculture, food security and rural development. In Pakistan, this is important. According to Relief Web, Pakistan’s total female population is over 101 million. However, around 64 million women – more than half…
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Celebrating success: Zambian smallholders combat cassava brown streak disease

Cassava is a critical crop to Zambia’s economy and food security. According to a 2019 paper, cassava (Manihot esculenta) is one of the most important root staple crops in Zambia. An estimated 30% of Zambians – over four million people – consume cassava as part of their daily diet. Indeed, this crop is so important…
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Mobile plant clinics in Nepal: Delivering vital crop health advice to rural farmers

Mobile plant clinic in Nepal
In Chitwan, Nepal, mobile plant clinics are helping smallholders by providing plant health advisory services to local farmers seeking help with crop pests and diseases.
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South Sudan farmers to benefit from country-specific extension content

Workshop participants looking at the PlantwisePlus Factsheets app
CABI organized a five-day digital and in-country content creation workshop in Juba, South Sudan. The writeshop was an opportunity to introduce the PlantwisePlus digital learning and decision-making tools and build capacity for national stakeholders in developing country-specific extension materials for farmers.  
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Pesticide risk reduction can contribute to food safety – here’s how

Young farmer in Jamaica holding an onion
To mark World Food Safety Day on 7 June, with the theme of the year “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected“ we take a look at the ways in which the PlantwisePlus pesticide risk reduction pathway can contribute to safer food production.
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Nepal National Forum stresses collaborative actions for strengthening plant clinics

Plant Clinic stakeholders at the Nepal National Forum
The National Forum meeting, a key event in the Nepal PlantwisePlus calendar, recently took place in  Kathmandu.  It was an opportunity for participants to hear the latest plant clinic activities and aimed to strengthen plant clinic operations nationwide.
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