Source: ICARDA In a recent series of conversations with CGIAR Knowledge Management teams, Sara Jani and Valentina De Col from ICARDA interviewed members of IITA’s knowledge management team, Olayemi Oluwasoga, Open Data Engagement Manager, and Olawamiwa Adeoluwa, Data Analyst…
Digital tools
Harnessing Digital Innovation: Celebrating the Legacy of the ICT4BXW Project in Banana Agronomy
ICT4BXW held a closing workshop, marking the end of a six-year project that ran from 2018 through 2023. The project focused on developing and deploying digital tools to combat Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) disease in Rwanda. The end-of-project workshop…
Yet another boost for cassava seed inspection and certification in Rwanda: IITA donates and trains RICA on LAMP Technology for disease diagnosis
In a significant stride towards bolstering Rwanda’s cassava farming sector, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), on Wednesday 04 October 2023, handed over two LAMP technology devices to the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA). Receipt…
Strengthening Rwanda’s Cassava Seed System: Enhancing Quality and Yield Through Inspection and Certification Training
The training was designed to enhance human capacities for cassava seed inspection and certification as a critical element of building a sustainable formal cassava seed value chain in Rwanda. The primary challenge is the shortage of quality cassava seeds…
How digital tools help tackle the most ravaging banana disease in Rwanda
Patrice Muhimbabwenge no longer has to uproot his entire banana plantation to address the threat posed by Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), the most notorious banana disease in Rwanda. This is a major shift from his usual practice prior to…
Voices of Rwandan Farmers and Extension Agents: Digital tools to fight BXW disease
Farmers and Farmer Promoters (local extension agents) in Rwanda have expressed very positive sentiments about digital tools that have been deployed to support banana production in the Country. We visited Farmer Promoters and Farmers from the project’s intervention sites…
Why is it important to use both analogue and digital approaches for scaling innovation?
The ICT4BXW project is scaling various digital innovations for BXW diagnosis and prevention to increase banana production across all districts of Rwanda. Scaling is not a one-size fits all approach. It includes various aspects that help to channel the…
Summary of diagnosis as of July 2022 Total Diagnosis: 6,412 The total number of BXW disease diagnosis made by the Farmer Promoters using the BXW App (both positive and negative diagnoses) BXW Occurrence: 1,187 Total positive BXW disease diagnosis…