A partnership between Alcorn State University (ASU) and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) brings cutting-edge crop disease detection technologies for family farmers in Mississippi and Arkansas.
The “Education and Application of Portable Crop Disease Detection Technologies to Improve Biosecurity for Underserved Family Farms in Mississippi and Arkansas” project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
It is led by Dr. Emran Ali, a horticulture specialist with the ASU Extension Program, and Dr. Henry English, director of the Small Farm Program at UAPB.
On April 28, UAPB hosted a small farmer conference in Pine Bluff, where Dr. Ali delivered a presentation on modern plant disease management strategies and demonstrated how portable detection devices can revolutionize farm diagnostics.
The session included a hands-on workshop, allowing farmers to use the tools themselves—scanning plants and interpreting real-time data that could help save their crops from disease-related losses.
“This kind of access to technology can be a game-changer for small-scale producers,” said Dr. Ali.
“For too long, these farms have lacked the tools and support to quickly identify and manage crop diseases. These portable detection kits can monitor biosecurity in the field and take immediate action to prevent outbreaks.”
The project highlights how practical training and technology-driven solutions improve farm management practices and increase agricultural productivity.
“This initiative reflects ASU’s ongoing commitment to advancing agricultural innovation,” said Dr. Dexter B. Wakefield I, dean and director of Land-Grant Programs in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS).
“By connecting farmers with transformative technologies and training, we’re not only protecting crops—we’re investing in the future of farming communities.”
Crop disease remains one of the leading causes of yield loss in southern agriculture, especially for small-scale producers with limited access to professional diagnostics.
This project aims to close that gap by offering real-time, field-based solutions that are both scalable and sustainable.
“In the past, a farmer might lose an entire field before even realizing something was wrong,” said Dr. Ali. “Now, they can diagnose an issue in minutes—not days or weeks.”
Through outreach events like the Pine Bluff conference and future regional training sessions, the team will continue expanding farmer access to the tools and best practices needed to protect crops and promote long-term success.
For more information about the project, contact Dr. Emran Ali at 601-877-6129 or [email protected].
