development
projects
location Nairobi, Kenya date November – December 2011 CABI project team Eric Boa Florence Chege Phil Taylor Rob Reeder Lucy Karanja
master class in plant health
Agriculture is a key driver of economic and social development at national and community levels in sub-saharan Africa.
so what’s the problem? Communities however, are unable to meet potential crop production levels due to crop losses in the field and postharvest caused by a whole host of pests and diseases. In many sub-Saharan countries farmers are not getting adequate information to help them lose less of their crops to these plant health problems. CABI through our Plantwise initiative is enabling communities in developing countries, through plant clinics, access plant health advisory services that otherwise would not be available. Plant clinics are being embedded in village level organizations, providing on-the-spot solutions for plant health problems wherever possible. To make clinics a success, plant doctors need to have good access to scientific and technical support from trusted sources, so they can solve the more difficult problems and reply to farmers quickly and effectively. This master class was designed to enable the delivery of urgently needed plant health support to farmers by showing extension workers how to use innovative emerging technology.
KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE
what is this project doing? The course delivered diagnostic training to 20 extension workers from 10 African countries (Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda). There were practical sessions on methods such as detecting key pathogens, isolating fungi, extracting nematodes using basic equipment that’s widely available. Participants received a thorough introduction to the Pest and Diseases Identification Library and learned how to undertake remote diagnostics. Taking photographs and interpreting pest features and symptoms was an important part of the course. The widespread availability of cheap digital microscopes has opened up new possibilities for identifying pests and diseases in the field, yet few of our trainees had had the opportunity to try them. Guided by experts, trainees were taught and gained confidence in using the different types of microscope including USB microscopes of which a user manual was provided for future reference.
results so far This course provided an opportunity for a broad audience of extension and research workers in participating countries to see and try out innovative and new diagnostic methods for themselves. By collecting samples trainees tried out the new techniques taught over the two week training period. Digital tools have great potential to enhance the process of pest identification and as technologies become more accessible, some of the current barriers to accessing information in developing countries will start to disappear. The experience of seeing people use these and other items has helped Plantwise staff understand how to better equip plant clinics in future. Equipment used during the course (e.g. USB microscopes) was distributed to selected participants to use in their work.
www.cabi.org/masterclass partners Plant Biosecurity CRC – Australia The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) The Extension Services Department in the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture Katoloni Community Based Organization sponsors Australian Government and The Crawford Fund CABI’s Plantwise programme Plant Biosecurity CRC
contact CABI, ICRAF Complex, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya T: +254 20 72 24450 F: +254 20 71 22150 E: africa@cabi.org www.cabi.org/africa
ID-MC-06-12
Florence Chege, Project Manager