Sustainable cotton production ‘through the eyes’ of a Better Cotton farmer
Mr Javed is a resident of the village Jameel Dall, union council Mir Imam Bux Talpur, in the district of Mirpur Khas in Pakistan. He has, since 2012, been one of the active farmers of CABI’s project to help improve cotton production which is run under the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI).
CABI helps build capacity of government stakeholders in Pakistan to tackle aflatoxins with biological controls
Aflatoxins are powerful fungal toxins that contaminate many agricultural products, including cereal grains, chilies, dry fruits and nuts. They also well affect milk because some livestock feed contains aflatoxin. In Pakistan, aflatoxin concentrations in harvested grain frequently exceed the level permitted in countries where aflatoxin in food and feed is regulated. The Aflatoxin Control in…
Strengthening extension trainings through digital tools in Rwanda
The role of extension staff in reaching smallholder farmers in Africa with relevant agricultural information cannot be underestimated, writes Abigael Mchana, Communications Officer, and Henry Mibei, Manager, Digital Development at CABI’s Africa Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. They are few in number compared to their clients in need of their expertise and often operate with scarce…
Overcoming obstacles to traditional African vegetable production for a strengthened food system
The Power on your Plate summit recently took place in Arusha, Tanzania. This important pan-African event explored the role of traditional African vegetables in diversifying and strengthening food systems, reducing poverty, energising industry and improving health and income across Africa. During the summit, speakers considered ways in which obstacles can be overcome to boost traditional…
Social norms: why women farmers might not be getting ahead despite development support
On International Women’s Day, Bethel Terefe, Gender Coordinator, CABI takes a look at gender-related social norms and how they affect women’s futures in agriculture. Women play an important role in agriculture. Although they rarely control decision-making on family farms, women constitute 43% of the global agricultural workforce and are an undeniable asset to the sector.
Better Cotton Initiative is empowering rural women in Pakistan through entrepreneurship
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2021 today (8 March) and its theme of ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’, CABI’s Naheed Babar, Noreen Mangrio and Noor Nabi Bhutto highlight how CABI’s role in the Better Cotton Initiative is helping to empower women in Pakistan through entrepreneurship.
Aflatoxin control in Pakistan – promising developments to reduce aflatoxin problem in maize crop
Aflatoxin Control in Pakistan is a game changer initiative for the country’s maize industry. Maize growers adopt cultural practices, such as the drying of maize cobs on concrete grounds and delaying the harvesting to reduce moisture on the standing crop.
Horticulture programme in Pakistan helps increase farmer incomes by almost 20%
Insect pests cause millions of dollars of crop losses in countries throughout the world every year. Pakistan is no exception. Pests like apple codling moth, apple spider mites, papaya mealybug, giant mealybug and fruit flies can harm crops causing substantial losses to crop yields and farmer incomes. On a broader level, these losses also negatively…
How does gender and age affect smallholder access to agricultural advice?
Male or female, young or old – how do demographics affect the ability of smallholder farmers to access agricultural advice? This was the subject of a working paper published about the CABI-led project, Gender and the Legume Alliance (GALA).
Dr Monica Kansiime is committed to helping the mission for greater food security in Africa
As part of UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we turn the focus on CABI’s own female scientists to highlight the invaluable work they contribute towards our mission of helping smallholder farmers grow more and lose less to crop pests and diseases. Here we find out more about Dr Monica Kansiime –…