Classifying agribusiness-based advisory services: benefits and challenges of different models
By: Dannie Romney, Global Director, Development Communication and Extension, CABI Agricultural extension and advisory services – services that offer technical advice to farmers – play an important role in delivering the knowledge and tools that farmers need to increase their crop yields, improve their food security and livelihoods, and build resilience against the difficulties they…
Data sharing standards for soil: Why aren’t they taking root?
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has put food security squarely on the global agenda. Combined with the existing challenges that climate change brings to agriculture and agroecology, the production of ample and nutritious food is now under threat as farmers struggle with social distancing and income loss – writes Ruthie Musker, Project Officer –…
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…
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).
Effective extension is key to communicating the benefits of better agricultural production practices
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 Christine Alokit who takes…
‘Sowing the seeds’ of growth and poverty alleviation is the sweet smile of success for smallholder farmers
Improving agricultural productivity in African smallholder farming is a critical outcome in the pathway to growth and poverty alleviation, according to Dr Monica Kansiime who is intent on helping the continent improve the sustainability of its seed production.
Rural women in Pakistan trained on principles of Better Cotton Initiative despite COVID-19
As we all know, 2020 has been the worst year in the lifetimes of many people around the world due to COVID-19 – the severe acute respiratory disease – also known as SARS-CoV-2 because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003.
‘Seeing is Believing’: An innovative concept of bundling agricultural services for the benefit of smallholder farmers
By Akanksha Nagpal & Arun Jadhav Smallholder farmers in India are increasingly exposed to climate change and extreme weather events. Research on innovative strategies and tools to improve agricultural risk management is the need of the hour. ‘Seeing is believing’, as the phrase goes, underpins the innovative concept of the project entitled ‘Picture Based Insurance…
‘Going viral’ – how popular music videos help bring soybean farming knowledge to thousands in Ghana
Development communication is an important tool for sharing information with small-scale farmers, writes Duncan Sones. Usually, the goal is to reach as many of the right people as possible, that’s to say to go viral with your communication. After all, you want your information to be seen by many and to make the biggest change…
Mr Nutri Bean: Educating children to increase consumption of iron and zinc rich beans
The higher iron and zinc rich beans called NAROBEAN 1, 2, 3, 4C and 5C can significantly improve nutrition and are particularly beneficial for children and expectant mothers.