A model for developing ICT based services for agriculture extension

Pakistan’s current and potential agricultural land is under enormous pressure to grow more from existing land areas because of: population growth, lack of arable land (it has been estimated that every day approximately 500 acres of farmland is taken out of agriculture in Pakistan) and the shrinking size of land holdings per family. Of the 6.6... >>

Addressing the problem of sulphur cinquefoil in Canada

Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), is a long-lived perennial native to Eurasia. It was introduced to North America over a hundred years ago. Since then, it has invaded disturbed habitats, such as roadsides and pastureland and also semi-natural habitats such as open forests. It is able to hybridize with North American cinquefoil species or to di... >>

African soil health

Poor soil fertility is a key constraint to improving farm productivity and farmer livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). After several decades of emphasis on biological approaches to soil fertility improvement, partly because fertilizer availability was itself a major constraint, there is now wide recognition of the need to integrate increased fe... >>

Arming DPR Korea's farmers with tools to tackle soil pests

Food crops such as rice, maize and cabbage, are grown over two-thirds (1.2 Million hectares) of DPR Korea’s total arable land. Their production is essential for supplying the population with adequate food and nutrition. Over recent years however, these food crops have come under increasing threat from soil-borne insects. Damage inflicted by t... >>

Arming farmers with tools to tackle armyworms

The African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) is a particularly devastating pest. Large numbers of the voracious black caterpillars appear suddenly, leaving crops and pasture devastated in their wake. As the outbreaks are difficult to predict, they catch farmers unaware and unprepared. If uncontrolled, they can cause total crop loss, with millions of h... >>

Assessing rust fungi to control of Acacia in Australia

Prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica, Mimosacae) was introduced as a shade and fodder tree to Australia during the early 20th century. However, it has since become an invader and has currently spread over approximately six million hectares of arid and semi-arid land in Queensland and has the potential to spread throughout the arid regions of the whole o... >>

Assessing the impacts of coffee green scale in Papua New Guinea

The majority of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) smallholder farmers grow cash crops on less than ½ a hectare of land or with limited resources. These farmers account for nearly 90% of the country’s coffee production, earning 5% of GDP in foreign exchange income – the second largest in the agricultural sector. Currently co... >>

Azolla control

The fairy fern or floating water fern (Azolla filiculoides) is an aquatic plant with delicate fern-like foliage. The plant originates in the Americas, but was introduced into the UK in around 1840 as an ornamental garden aquatic. The plant soon escaped the confines of ponds and into the wider environment where it now causes considerable problems to... >>

BACCARA- Biodiversity and Climate Change, a Risk Analysis

Climate change, in particular increased temperatures, levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, changes in precipitation and in the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events, is known to have serious impact on forest ecosystems and forest productivity. Global warming leads to longer growing seasons and increased water losses, affecting forest p... >>

Beyond compliance: managing quarantine pests in Southeast Asia

Trade is hugely important to Southeast Asia, where exports of fresh produce are worth over US$6bn each year. Much of this trade is subject to the importing countries’ pest risk management requirements. These requirements may be damaging to product quality, hampered by limited availability or capacity, or detrimental to the environment. Where... >>