3rd Africa Rice Congress Theme 5: Innovation systems and ICT tools for rice value chain Mini symposium 2: Rice knowledge management using using ICT tools for rice value chain Author: Kabonyoro

1. AFROweeds and Weedsbook:
Online and Offline Weed
Identification and Management
Support for Better-informed
Agricultural Change Agents
R. Kabanyoro, J. Rodenburg, T. Le Bourgeois, P.
Grard, A. Carara, R. Irakiza, D. Makokha, I.
Dzomeku, T. Chiconela, I. Malombe, S. Sarra, F.
Ekeleme, P. Marnotte
Donor: EU - ACP Sciences & Technology Programme
Coordinating centers: CIRAD & Afr icaRice

2. Justification
from weed identification to weed management
•
•
•
•
•
•
Weeds: major constraint to rice production
across systems and regions
Yield
loss
despite
control
15-23%;
Economic annual loss SSA: $1.5 billion
Effective
weed
management
requires
informed actors and knowledge on weed
species
This requires accessible support tools,
information sources and exchange platforms
Increased use of internet, smartphones and
tables enhances such access
Opportunity and need for electronic tools
and an online network

3. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

4. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

5. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

6. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

7. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

8. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

9. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

10. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

11. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

12. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool

13. AFROweeds
electronic weed identification tool
•
Available
online
at
www.afroweeds.org/idao
•
Available offline when installed
from a CD-ROM
•
Available offline on an electronic
tablet
when
downloaded
as
an
available
as
application
•
In
the
future,
application on a smartphone

14. Testing the AFROweeds tool
online and offline field try-outs
• First test: online version
using iPAD with 3G data SIM
card
• Second test: offline version
(App) using iPAD with preinstalled AFROweeds App

15. Testing the AFROweeds tool
online and offline field try-outs
Fig. 1. Online version: average
time 7 minutes and 6 seconds;
success rate: 44%

16. Testing the AFROweeds tool
online and offline field try-outs
Fig. 2. Offline version (App):
average time 5 minutes; success
rate: 75%

17. Testing the AFROweeds tool
online and offline field try-outs
• Identifications failure causes:
o Species was not yet included in the
database
o Lack of detailed character states
(e.g. on leaf morphology, the bract
length, bulbs)
o Insufficient coverage of withinspecies character variations (e.g.
flower color)
o The user made an unnoticed early
mistake in the selection procedure
o Suboptimal 3G network coverage in the
field
• More
practice
will
success
rate
and
identification time
increase
decrease

18. Weedsbook
The African Weed Science Network

19. Weedsbook
The African Weed Science Network

20. Weedsbook
The African Weed Science Network

21. Weedsbook
The African Weed Science Network
Key comments gathered:
•Weedsbook allows sharing of information
and can be used for training and
communication
•Helps
professionals
to
update
themselves on new developments and to
generate new ideas
•Creates
new
opportunities
for
collaboration between scientists and
extension staff
•Durability of the network should be
ascertained
•Weedsbook may boost weed science in
Africa by attracting young students and
scientists; need to grow (more members)

22. Conclusions
better informed actors, better weed management
AFROweeds tool …
•… is not/never finished: it
can/will be expanded with more
species, more characters, more
(rice) growing environments …
•… will be made available for
iPhone and Android systems and
expected
to
replace
field
guides in book form …
Weedsbook network …
… is a useful platform for
professionals and students to
interact, learn, share,
enhance their work or studies
…
… needs more members …
… will continue as the
African Weed Science Network
AFROweeds tool and the online network Weedsbook
•Mutually reinforce each other
•Contribute to better informed actors, and therefore better
weed management

23. Thank you
Merci
The tool and the network can be accessed at: www.afroweeds.org
Visit the AfricaRice booth at this conference