Project advocates village-based biological control of fall armyworm in Zambia
CABI working with the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) and the University of Zambia (UNZA) is embarking on a project, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), to advocate village-based biological control of the devastating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in rural Zambia. The project will help improve…
New study reveals willingness of papaya farmers in Kenya to reduce pesticide use
A new study published in the CABI Agriculture and Bioscience journal has revealed a willingness of smallholder papaya farmers in Kenya to reduce their chemical pesticide use to fight the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus). Researchers from CABI surveyed 383 farming households in four counties in Kenya alongside key informant interviews…
Samurai wasp has minimal impact on native stink bugs, new CABI-led study confirms
A new study led by CABI has confirmed that the Samurai wasp (Trissolcus japonicus) – a natural enemy of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) pest – has minimal impact on native stink bugs. Dr Tim Haye, Head of Arthropod Biological Control, based at CABI’s centre in Switzerland, teamed-up…
Project launched to improve marketing of pawpaw, mango, avocado and citrus fruits by managing invasive scale insect pests in Eastern Africa
A new project has been launched to help improve market access for pawpaw, mango, avocado, and citrus by managing invasive scale insect pests in Eastern Africa – particularly Kenya, Uganda and Burundi. The three-year project will seek to increase compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for the fruits through…
Crop Sprayer App is latest tool in the PlantwisePlus Toolkit
CABI has launched the Crop Sprayer App – the latest tool in the PlantwisePlus Toolkit – aimed at helping smallholder farmers calculate how much pesticide to use when treating their crops and protecting them from pests and diseases. Plant health is increasingly threatened by climate change, pests and insufficient response…
New PlantwisePlus Toolkit helps farmer advisory service providers give better advice
A new PlantwisePlus Toolkit has been launched to help identifying tried and trusted digital tools that are designed to assist crop production by supporting decision-making. The website is aimed at agricultural advisory service providers and brings together a suite of digital tools to, ultimately, support smallholder farmers implementing sustainable crop…