Surveillance of potato diseases in Kenya
Potato is one of the most widely grown crops in Kenya. The sector contributes almost USD 30m per year and employs 3.3 million people. However, the yield has been reducing significantly over the last decade, 12.4 t/ha below the global average of 21 t/ha. This has been attributed to a…
Promoting domestic coffee consumption in Africa
Coffee is a primary source of income for more than 12 million households in Africa, and, in particular for rural-based populations. Over 38% of the total population of Burundi, 23% Tanzania, 22% Uganda, 17% Côte d’Ivoire and 14% Ethiopia, for example, depend on coffee farming. Production of the crop has,…
Improving Pakistan’s food value chains through certification and quality assurance
Despite sufficient availability of natural resources, in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Pakistan, constraints are faced throughout the value chain. Growth opportunities provided by domestic and global agriculture markets can therefore not be met. The aim of this project is to help create stronger food value chains in Pakistan by introducing certification facilities,…
Cibuni Tea Estate ‘drinks to a more sustainable brew’ in biological fight against pests and diseases
The Cibuni Tea Estate, in the Java region of Indonesia, is benefiting from CABI’s expertise in Integrated Crop Management (ICM) as it adopts a more sustainable biological approach to fighting a range of tea pests and diseases such as looper caterpillars (Biston supressaria) and tea blister blight (Exobasidium vexans Massee).…
Promoting sustainable organic cotton production and supply in Pakistan
Certified organic cotton production contributes to less than 1% of global cotton cultivation. This is because access to organic cotton seed is so difficult. In Pakistan, the lack of policies, availability of non-Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seed and weak links with input suppliers and supply chains makes organic cotton farming…
Aflatoxin control in Pakistan
Aflatoxins are a group of toxins produced by certain fungi - Aspergillus flavus - found in crops such as maize and groundnuts. These aflatoxins are toxic and can cause serious health problems for humans and livestock. They can also cause problems within the food chain because they contaminate crops, cause…