Agricultural service providers are transforming rural livelihoods – here’s how
Agricultural service providers play an important role in farming. In addition to offering support, they also help to fill gaps in public extension systems. They deliver services such as pest and plant health diagnosis and integrated pest management (IPM) advice. By working with local authorities, PlantwisePlus is helping to train local entrepreneurs to become trusted service providers.…
Zambia strengthens pest preparedness with launch of national pest risk register
Zambia is strengthening its ability to prevent and respond to invasive pests through the implementation of a National Pest Risk Register (PRR), a tool designed to safeguard agriculture, food security, trade and the environment. The register, developed through a partnership between the Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services (PQPS) and CABI under the PlantwisePlus programme, provides…
Meet Ignitious Chilembo, a Zambian researcher championing responsible pest management
In Zambia, smallholder farmers face various pest and disease challenges, including fall armyworm in maize and cassava brown streak disease. Pesticides are often used to manage these threats; however, improper use can harm both human health and the environment, as well as reduce farm productivity and cause pesticide resistance. Reducing pesticide risk requires supporting advisors…
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).
How do pest risk registers address the spread of plant pests in Africa?
Pest risk registers can help to solve problems in agriculture, addressing the growing global threat of plant pests. Moreover, changing weather patterns, led by rising temperatures, are causing them to reproduce faster and expand into new regions. In addition, global trade and increased movement of people are accelerating the spread of pests across borders. These…
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…
Successful on-farm trials using Metarhizium rileyi in Zambia
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has wreaked havoc on Zambia’s agriculture, devastating smallholder farmers with staggering losses. But amidst the struggle, a promising solution emerges. Through activities on the PlantwisePlus programme and the Village-based biocontrol of fall armyworm in Zambia project, funded by ACIAR, CABI has delved into combating this agricultural menace with various biological…
CABI’s communications campaign aids the fight against Cassava Brown Streak Disease in Zambia
CABI Zambia has recently shared evidence on the impact of its communication campaign on Cassava Brown Streak Disease. The assessment finds that the campaign activities played a pivotal role in the fight against CBSD at both local and national levels.
How can Metarhizium be used to address pests and diseases?
Sihle Nakombe is a lab technician from CABI’s office in Zambia. She joined CABI in January 2023. Earlier this year, she visited the CABI labs in Egham, UK, to get training on Metarhizium. This naturally occurring fungus can control insect pests with low environmental and human health effects.
First Regional Pest Risk Analysis Workshop for SADC Member States held in Zambia
CABI, as part of the global PlantwisePlus programme, has facilitated the first Regional Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) workshop for Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Member States in Lusaka, Zambia.