Written by Mercyline Tata

CETC IL Host Final Workshop to Conclude Farmer Field School Programs that Tackle Potato Diseases in Central America

Last week, Zamorano University hosted a closing workshop at the Los Pinos hotel in La esperanza to conclude the farmer field school program with potato growers in Honduras.

In a project funded by USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Current and Emerging Threats to Crops, researchers from Zamorano University successfully trained potato growers through farmer field schools, on late blight management and the use of PlantVillage Nuru mobile application to diagnose potato diseases. 

More than 80 farmers from six farmers' field schools primarily from Intibucá met to discuss pest and disease challenges in potatoes. Participants were from a multitude of public and private organizations such as the Directorate for Agricultural Research and Technology in Honduras (DICTA), the Association of Renewed Intibucanas Women (AMIR), and a private importing and exporting company known as JJ Agro.

Taking place over 2 days, the workshop consisted of both presentations and breakout sessions that gave participants a chance to share the knowledge and experiences acquired during the different sessions of the farmers' field school program implemented from May - September 2022. The participants focused on key topic areas such as potato pests and diseases, disease diagnosis, potato disease management using handheld decision support tools, and integrated pest management (IPM).

While participants acknowledged that the challenges— such as potato early and late blight are dire, they also discussed the enormous potential of mobile technology to benefit potato farmers of Central America. Over five months, the participants leveraged Nuru, an artificial intelligence to instantly diagnose late blight diseases. The mobile application, available in the Spanish language, helped the farmers to monitor the potato fields for signs of pests and diseases while CIP's hand-held decision support tool provided spraying recommendations. 

The workshop culminated with a graduation ceremony, attended by researchers from Zamorano University. Each participant received a certificate of completion. 

“The farmers expressed interest in continuing with the program to learn how to manage other potato diseases in 2023,” said Emil Vasquez, research assistant, at Zamorano University.

 

The Farmer Field School is one of several ongoing initiatives funded by CETC IL under the Zamorano University in Honduras project. 

 

Content and Image Credit: Emil Floricia Vasquez

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