Ettien Antoine ADJEI ^1,2* Kassoum TRAORE ^1,3 Eveline Marie Fulbert Windinmi SAWADOGO/COMPAORE ⁴ William Jean-Louis AMOAKON ² Nazaire Koffi II KOUASSI ^2,5 Kan Modeste KOUASSI ^2,6 Justin Simon PITA ^2,6*

• ¹ UFR des sciences sociales, Péléforo-Gbon-Coulibaly University, Korhogo, Savanes, Côte d'Ivoire
• ² Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire
• ³ Centre Ivoirien des Recherches Economiques et Sociales (CIRES), Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
• ⁴ Institut de l'environnement et de la Recherche Agricole (INERA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• ⁵ UFR Biosciences, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire
• ⁶ UFRBiosciences, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d'Ivoire

In Côte d'Ivoire, cassava is the source of calories for about 26 million people and generates significant income for stakeholders in the value chain. However, its production is threatened by Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), which causes yield losses of up to 70%. This disease remains poorly known among farmers, who often adopt poor cultivation practices that serve to amplify its spread. To address this issue, the Regional Center of Excellence for transboundary plant pathogens Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) introduced an innovate android based plant disease detection smart application called "PlantVillage Nuru" to help farmers recognize the disease through real-time diagnosis in cassava fields. The present study analyzes the perceptions and adoption rate of the Nuru application by farmers in the diagnosis of CMD within in three departments of Côte d'Ivoire. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 152 farmers and agricultural technicians in Dabou, Bouaké and Man. Correlation tests were then performed using SPSS and Stata version 12.1 The study revealed an adoption rate of 45%, focused mainly on monitoring the phytosanitary status of cassava fields (98%), selecting healthy cuttings as planting materials (52%), and accessing agricultural advice (21%). The use of the Nuru application was strongly influenced (P<0.001) by the size of cassava field owned, respondents' participation in WAVE cassava disease awareness activities, the use of family labor, and whether the respondents own or received a smartphone from WAVE. Gender, level of education, the contact with agricultural extension service and internet access were also significant determinants (P<0.01) in the use of the application. Despite the constraints of smartphone unavailability (65%) and the complexity of using the application (41%) observed, Nuru was considered by farmers (100%) to be an essential and reliable training tool for detecting and managing CMD but did not appear to be needed on a sustained and regular basis.