The Plant Health Network (IPM Diagnosis and Management) helps connect researchers and experts with farmers and farming organizations in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania. U.S. Network participants communicate information about vegetable crop disorders caused by pest insects, weeds, nematodes, and plant pathogens, including identification and IPM solutions. Check out this link for solved vegetable crop diagnoses.
Here is an example of a correspondence from our Plant Health Network
(IPM Diagnosis and Management):
28 June; 9:16 a.m. “Can one tell us what this disease on tomato is? Upper side of leaf yellow patches. Lower side brown.”
28 June; 4:46 p.m. “This is almost certainly leaf mold caused by the fungal pathogen Passalore fluva = Fluvia fulva. This disease is known to occur in East Africa. It is favored by high humidity and most common in greenhouses; less common in field-grown tomatoes. A quick tape mound could confirm the diagnosis. Control involves good sanitation (removal of debris after harvest) planting clean, seed, reduce periods of leaf wetness and humidity and fungicide treatment. There are resistant varieties but these seem to be overcome quickly.”
One advantage of this program is that it will allow us to analyze messages by gender (senders, respondents), key-words, location, time-of-day, date, and other demographic information. Because the system is anonymous (unless the sender self-identifies), it allows all people to ask or respond to questions freely.
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is a messaging app used for sending free SMS messages through an internet connection. Currently it is our best means of communication for quick responses and the host of the Plant Health Network. For more information go to https://www.whatsapp.com/.
How to Get Involved
- Start by downloading WhatsApp onto your phone or computer.
- Once you have the app downloaded, start adding contacts.