New Kenyan Plant Clinic Helps Farmers Identify Emerging Pests, Crop Diseases - Reuters

[hatrack]

EDIT

Scientists in Kenya have noticed an increase in crop pests and diseases believed linked to changing climate conditions, including more intense rainfall, higher temperatures and more extended droughts. Peter Karanja, a scientist working with CABI, says that many new diseases and pests have emerged, while some that were thought to have disappeared have re-emerged.

Among the most notorious pests, according to Karanja, is whitefly, which now affects more than 60 percent of the region’s tomatoes and potatoes. Maize, which is commonly afflicted by diseases such as maize streak virus and head smut fungus, has recently also come under threat from rough dwarf virus, which is being transmitted from leafhoppers from Uganda.

The new plant clinic, as it is known, has been operating on a weekly basis at the Wangige market for the past six months, and farmers say it has been a significant help. “I visit the clinic whenever I have a problem. When I was preparing my land, I realized it had a problem and that’s why I came to consult and I have been told what to do,” said Beth Wanjiko, a farmer who grows spices, vegetables, legumes, green maize, and bananas. “I was told how to rotate my crops, and I just needed a note to get the right pesticide,” she said.

In part because of growing pest problems, Wanjiko now grows napier grass as fodder for livestock instead of maize. She says that changes in the weather caused the loss of a lot of her maize crop until she made the crop switch recently.

EDIT

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/plant-clinics-help-farmers-battle-climate-linked-crop-blights