Julia Dennis, CABI
UPDATE MARCH 2014
Representatives of the Kenyan agricultural plant protection services and CABI’s Florence Chege discuss pest management priorities.
IPPC and Plantwise lead East Africa workshop for plant protection From Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, key representatives of agricultural institutions gathered in Nairobi for the first ever joint workshop led by CABI’s Plantwise programme and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat. The workshop was convened in an effort to exchange national experiences in plant protection and pave the way for renewed strategies to share plant pest information from the region. The event highlighted the variety of actors already working in each country to detect, report and respond to pest problems, which on average account for significant crop losses worldwide and threaten trade as well as food security. Nonetheless, across the region it was apparent that all national systems could benefit from additional resources and collaboration,
especially for fulfilling national obligations under the IPPC.
reporting
“This is the first time Plantwise and IPPC brought together NPPOs, extension, research and academic institutions, and it is not only to support phytosanitary efforts, but also to share information that will help countries become more proactive,” says David Nowell of the IPPC Secretariat. “Central to this will be the IPPC, the Plantwise programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to help implement and provide recommendations.” Participants discovered, for example, how data on crops and pests commonly brought into the plant clinics by farmers can sound an alert to their National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) and IPPC contact points, which can better report and react to pest situations.
“If we had known this sooner, we would have engaged more closely with policy makers to raise their awareness about pest threats. Now you are going to see more governments wanting to get engaged,” says James Wanjohi, Head of Extension Administration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya. This workshop was held in the run-up to the 9th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures at FAO headquarters where Plantwise will host a joint side-event with the IPPC. “It is good that the delegates of African countries can go to Rome and bring this experience and focus to the table - the message is that information is power, and this can reduce hunger and poverty,” says Plantwise Regional Coordinator for Africa Washington Otieno. “We are finding ways.” Click here to watch the video.
Creating home grown extension materials in Trinidad & Tobago In addition to making global resources more available to agricultural extension providers, Plantwise is training experts in its programme countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago, to create materials with farmer-friendly messaging. Participants at a recent workshop session came from both the Research and Extension Divisions of the Ministry of Food Production (MFP), including agronomists, entomologists, and inspectors from the Pesticide Board.
The workshop highlighted principles based on integrated pest management (IPM) and introduced national partners to the Plantwise policy on pesticide use which is in alignment with international conventions.
Phil Taylor, CABI
The aim of the course was to encourage extension and research collaboration and transform technical information into written resources available for everyday use. This three-day course introduced participants to different types of extension materials, namely pest management decision guides (PMDGs) and factsheets. Plant doctors around the world have expressed their appreciation for these documents, which help them make informed decisions on how to advise farmers about managing pests.
Plant doctors advising farmers at a plant clinic in Sandgre Grande.
Finding ‘a way forward’ at Sri Lanka’s national Plantwise forum Wijeratne was the urgent need for safe pest management advice in order to reduce the threat of acute pesticide poisoning for farmers, their families and their wider communities. Working with Plantwise, Dr Wijeratne hoped that sound advice could reach farmers at the right time. “The message has to go to the farmers. Because farmers don’t know how to use pesticides, they misuse, overuse as well as abuse,” says Mr Wijeratne.
Over 60 stakeholders from Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector came together in the hilltops over Kandy in Sri Lanka recently to exchange experiences and strategies for implementing the Plantwise model in the country. Watch the video here.
“Plantwise fills a need,” agreed Mr M.U.P. Jayasundara, Agricultural Officer with the Plant Protection Service, the national implementing partner. “We can use the plant doctor prescription sheet as a requirement to show the agro-dealers to receive inputs, providing checks and balances.”
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twitter.com/cabi_news Julia Dennis, CABI
In Sri Lanka challenges to agricultural development continue to evolve alongside global markets, climate change and technological innovations. Building a highlyadaptable plant health system which supports farmers to face new challenges was seen as a positive step for economic growth. One concern from Additional Secretary
One plant doctor visited at Menkikdiwala clinic outside Kandy agreed that “the Plantwise training has been very helpful” to her. “It has helped me in organizing, decision-making and it has been useful in covering a large extension area37 villages with over 75 farmers each,” says Agricultural Instructor Maheshika Wirkranakaluthe. “And now the farmers’ tendencies are going towards non-chemical solutions as well, so this is very positive.”
Phil Taylor, CABI
From extension, research, private enterprise, academia and policy-making, attendees at this national forum represented the top tiers of the plant health system, and were led by guest of honour Dr. D. B T Wijeratne , the Additional Secretary (Agriculture Technology) of the Ministry of Agriculture. The ‘Review and Way Forward Workshop’ was aimed at ensuring sustainability for their growing ‘permanent crop clinic’ network, now setting up over 250 clinics nationwide.
This workshop took representatives out into the field to visit plant clinics, plant doctors and farmers in action around central Kandy, and directly inform their feedback on pros and cons of the current implementation approach.
Plantwise is a global programme led by CABI, working to increase food security and improve rural livelihoods by reducing crop losses.
Plantwise Suriname takes shape Module 1 of plant doctor training was provided for 24 staff members of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries (Ministerie van Landbouw, Veeteelt en Visserij, LVV) in Suriname, triggering the process to set up the ministry’s first plant clinics in the country. Material was presented in Dutch and English by CABI Associate Rob Harling and CABI Country Coordinator Shamela Rambadan,
with support from Maitrie Jagroep, Head of Entomology, LVV. This training followed the signing of a Partnership Agreement by the Permanent Secretary, Gerrit Breinburg, earlier this year. Plans are now underway to open the first two clinics by April, and a total of five plant clinics by the end of 2014.
Shamela Rambadan
GUESS THE PEST? A farmer brings his basil to your plant clinic in Brazil. You see that the leaves and stems have been affected by something. The farmer explains that these leaves fell off prematurely from the plant. Using the Plantwise knowledge bank’s diagnostic tool, can you find out what is affecting this farmer’s crop? Answer to last newsletter’s ‘guess the plant clinic’: Rwanda.
Julia Dennis, CABI
Rob Harling
“Whenever I have a problem, I take it to the plant clinic. If I didn’t have the clinic here I would have to go to Peradeniya, which is too far away.”
Julia Dennis, CABI
Farmer Focus: H.G. Jayawardana from Hettiwatha, Sri Lanka
Plantwise goes to…. The Economist’s Feeding the World Bringing together key players in food security from the private, public and civil society sector, the Economist’s annual Feeding the World conference in London also highlighted CABI’s efforts to level the playing field for smallholder farmers with programmes like Plantwise. Invited to speak on the afternoon panel focused on trade and supply chain resources, CABI’s CEO Dr Trevor Nicholls drove home the need for delivering access to ‘appropriate technologies’ for the smallholder farmers as one key to securing a more food secure future. Watch video clip here. “CABI is working to level the playing field for smallscale farmers,” said Dr Nicholls, “in terms of access to practical, appropriate technologies and information.”
Willis Ochilo, CABI
New mobile app puts plant health in the palm of your hand
The knowledge bank has developed a new Factsheet Library mobile application, which is now being tested at plant clinics throughout Kenya. It is aimed to help anyone who needs quick and accessible diagnostic and extension advice on the go. These factsheets are written by partners in Plantwise countries and designed for farmers’ needs. Users can browse pest factsheets either
by crop or by problem, accessing factsheets tailored for their country and region. As with the plant health information provided on the Plantwise knowledge bank website, this app is free for everyone to take advantage of, when and where they need it most. Visit the google play website to access the app here.
Plantwise is supported by:
Ministry of Agriculture People’s Republic of China
To find out more visit www.plantwise.org or contact: Janny Vos, Strategic Partnerships Director T: +31 (0)33 4321 031 E: j.vos@cabi.org
LOSE LESS, FEED MORE www.plantwise.org