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Introduction
Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) disease is affecting banana and plantain
production in all major banana regions in East and Central Africa. BXW threatens
food and income security in Africa. Citizen science and ICT provide opportunities for
more cost-effi cient (1) control and (2) prevention of BXW.
Citizen Science and ICT for Scaling
Citizen Science refers to crowd-sourcing data, and integrating scientifi c knowledge
and local observations through a (virtual) communication platform. In combination
with smart use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) it offers the
possibility to:
• Collect large scale, real-time data about agricultural challenges
• Facilitate two-way interaction between and feedback from farmers, service
providers, and science
• Provide personalized, site-specifi c, and real-time decision support to farmers and
service providers
• Develop evidence to convince policy-makers of best-fi t strategies
Objectives
1. To develop and pilot crowd-sourcing and sharing of geo-referenced data on
incidence and severity of BXW in banana fi elds/plantations through the use of a
citizen science platform and mobile (smart) phones in Rwanda.
2. To leverage the platform for tailored and context-specifi c provision of services and
decision-support for timely crop disease diagnostics, early warning, and decision
making.
3. To study changes in disease patterns, and additionally social factors such as
impact on farmers of different socio-economic, age, and gender status, and
infl uence on communication and collective action.
Expected outcomes
1. Decision making about control of BXW is optimized by providing mobile (smart)
phone-based BXW management advice that is based on their reports of BXW
incidence and severity (Figure 3).
2. Prevention of the spread of BXW is achieved through an early warning system
that is using the incidence and severity data to produce real-time heatmaps
showing how BXW is spreading, and where to focus preventive measures (Figure
4).
Conclusion
ICT and citizen science offer great opportunities for organizing and scaling
management of pests and diseases such as BXW. Yet, we need to learn more
about information needs and communication preferences of end users, and develop
capacity with partners to set up and maintain effective ICT platforms.
Photo credits: Heading picture: P. Lepoint, Bioversity International, through
Musarama. Other pictures: Mariette McCampbell.
Citizen Science and ICT for Scaling Banana
Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) control and prevention
Mariette McCampbell1,2, Marc Schut1,2, Cees Leeuwis2, Inge Van den Bergh3, Boudy van Schagen3, Sveta Gaidashova4, Bernard Vanlauwe1, and Emmanuel Njukwe1
BY
CC www.iita.org | www.cgiar.org
1=International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); 2=Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group, Wageningen University and Research; 3=Bioversity International; 4=Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)
Figure 1. BXW infected banana cut in fi eld
using SDSR technique.
Figure 2. Farmers show use of management
practices like male-bud removal
Figure 3. Example of ICT-tool interfaces for smart- and basic-phones using
accessible technologies for information exchange.
Figure 4. Example of heatmaps that
can be produced based on GPS
and citizen science data to monitor
disease change overtime
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A0 POSTER MARIETTE MCCAMPBELL.indd 1 18-11-17 15:41