admin | December 8, 2023
News Brief
Mary Ikigu, a Kenyan vegetable farmer, faced serious crop losses from pests and diseases until she discovered the Crop Sprayer app. This digital tool is part of CABI's PlantwisePlus program. It calculates the precise amount of pesticide needed for specific situations. Using the app, Mrs. Ikigu was able to reduce her losses by 20-30 per cent, saving money and easing her stress. CABI's initiative to combat global plant diseases (which cost over $220 billion US globally), and invasive insects (which cost $70 billion) provides farmers with apps and online resources to help them adopt safe agricultural practices. Mrs. Ikigu appreciates that the offline functionality of the app gives her valuable information even when networks fail or access to the internet is limited.
Mary Ikigu is a vegetable farmer from Naivasha, Kenya, who faced significant losses in her crops due to pests and diseases each year until she discovered a revolutionary digital tool. This tool, known as the Crop Sprayer app, provides precise information on the optimal amount of pesticide to spray.
Mrs. Ikigu learned about the app through a local firm promoting the technology, and it has transformed her life. She says, “I have more money in my pocket, and my farming activities are less stressful too.” The app calculates the exact amount of pesticide needed, reducing her losses by 20 to 30 per cent, particularly to pests like whiteflies.
She says, “This means that I now spend less on pesticides and get maximum crop protection from each spray.” The Crop Sprayer app is part of a series of digital tools developed by the agricultural research organization CABI under its PlantwisePlus program, aimed at assisting farmers to address pest and disease challenges.
Each year, plant diseases cost the global economy over $220 billion US, and invasive insects cause at least $70 billion US in economic losses, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization CABI’s PlantwisePlus initiative provides farmers with access to apps and online information, and offers support in adopting safe and effective agricultural practices, including plant health information, plant protection, and digital learning courses. It aims to empower farmers globally to predict, prevent, and prepare for plant health threats, ultimately reducing crop losses and ensuring food security in the face of a changing climate.
CABI’s chief executive, Daniel Elger, emphasizes the goal of reducing crop losses, enhancing ecosystem services, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and reinforcing the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change. Through technology developed under PlantwisePlus, pest threats can be prioritized based on risk and impact analysis, leading to improved early warnings and coordinated responses at various levels.
Henry Mibei, CABI’s digital development manager, explains that the organization collaborates with multiple partners to spread awareness of these innovations, reaching over 54 million farmers.
Mrs. Ikigu is happy that she can still access the pesticides app even when she’s offline. She says, “It was great foresight for the developers of the app to provide an offline version, because we often experience network failure and we’re not always able to afford data bundles.” This story is adapted from an article written by Dann Okoth called “African farmers armed with new tech to fight pests.” To read the full story, go to: African farmers armed with new tech to fight pests (scidev.net)