From identifying pests and diseases in fruit orchards to mapping problem areas in fields, digital scouting tools help farmers record crop conditions and make better-informed management decisions.
Regular crop scouting helps farmers identify pests, diseases, and other problems before they cause significant damage. Digital applications can support this process by providing crop-specific identification guides, monitoring instructions, and management information, while more comprehensive platforms allow farmers and agronomists to record field observations, map problem areas, and analyse crop conditions over time.
Three options available to South African farmers are AvoPDI, MangoPDDDI, and Cropwise Operations. They serve different purposes, ranging from free crop-identification resources to subscription-based digital farm-management services.
AvoPDI: a scouting guide for avocado growers
Developed by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), AvoPDI is a free mobile application designed to help small-scale, emerging, and commercial avocado growers identify pests, diseases, and beneficial arthropods, which include insects and other related organisms that can benefit crop production.
The application draws on the ARC’s avocado identification guide and provides information on pest identification, life cycles, monitoring, and disease symptoms. It also covers nematodes, nutritional deficiencies, and herbicide damage, helping growers investigate problems that may otherwise be mistaken for pest or disease damage.
Its interactive cultivar information map allows users to access information relevant to avocado cultivars. The app also includes pest and disease control measures, additional reading material, publications, and useful links.
AvoPDI includes a dedicated scouting section that explains the importance of regular monitoring as part of integrated pest management. This approach combines appropriate control methods and aims to prevent pest populations from reaching economically damaging levels.
Rather than relying on routine pesticide applications, growers can use scouting information to determine what is present, assess the extent of a problem, and decide whether intervention is warranted. The app is a reference and educational tool, however, and does not replace professional diagnosis or advice.
Cost and availability: AvoPDI is free to access and can be downloaded from Google Play for Android devices. The ARC also provides an online resource covering the app and avocado scouting.
MangoPDDDI: identifying mango pests, diseases, and disorders
MangoPDDDI, another ARC application, is designed to help mango growers identify pests, diseases, physical damage, and disorders affecting their crops.
The app provides information on mango pests and diseases, including identification guidance and control measures. It also covers damage and disorders that may affect fruit and tree health, helping growers distinguish between different causes of crop symptoms.
A dedicated scouting module supports the monitoring process, which is an important component of integrated pest management. Regular inspections help growers establish whether a problem is present, assess its severity, and evaluate whether existing management measures are working.
The application can be used as a reference during orchard inspections, particularly when growers need to investigate unfamiliar symptoms or consult information about possible causes. It also includes contact links and additional information.
As with other identification guides, the information should be used to support, rather than replace, expert diagnosis where symptoms are unclear or the consequences of an incorrect treatment decision could be significant.
Cost and availability: MangoPDDDI is free to download from Google Play for Android devices. The app listing identifies the ARC as its developer.
Cropwise Operations: digital scouting and farm management
Cropwise Operations, developed by Syngenta, offers a broader digital farm-management system for farmers, agronomists, and agricultural businesses. Unlike crop-specific identification guides, it combines scouting with field mapping, remote crop monitoring, and operational records.
Users can create scouting tasks manually or automatically and conduct field inspections through the mobile application. Scouts can compile reports with photographs and written notes, which can be synchronised with the online platform. Scouting reports and analytical tools help farm managers review observations and identify areas that need further investigation.
Other functions include satellite imagery, vegetation monitoring, weather information, field zoning, and identification of potential problem areas. The system can generate alerts when vegetation indices decline, helping users prioritise inspections. Depending on the service configuration, it also provides historical crop information, yield estimates, fertiliser and seed distribution mapping, and records of farm activities.
The mobile application can operate offline after the relevant information has been synchronised. Field reports can then be uploaded when connectivity becomes available again, making this useful for farms where mobile coverage is inconsistent.
Cropwise Operations is not simply a pest-identification app. It is designed to help users combine field observations with broader crop and operational data to support planning and decision-making.
Cost and availability: The Cropwise Operations mobile application is free to download from Google Play, but it is available only to registered Cropwise Operations users. Access to the wider service requires contacting the provider for account and commercial arrangements.
