INTRODUCTION
Given the escalating population growth, intensified cropping, widespread land degradation and shrinking agricultural land, sustaining agricultural production through improved soil management is critical to the issue of food security and poverty alleviation in developing countries.
Limited availability of additional land for crop production along with declining yield growth for major food crops have heightened concerns about agriculture's ability to feed the world population. Much currently cultivated land is being lost through soil erosion, nutrient depletion, desertification, deforestation, and salinization or overgrazing. As agricultural areas become even more crowded, arable land is likely to come under increasing pressure. This also sets the livelihoods of millions of subsistence farmers at risk.
Integrated soil health and fertility management (ISHFM) is the key in raising productivity levels while maintaining the natural resource base. This training course aims to guide participants on how to replenish soil nutrient pools, maximize on-farm recycling of nutrients, and reduce nutrient losses to the environment and improving the efficiency of external inputs.
DURATION
5 days
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This course is intended for various actors in the Agriculture Extension (Agricultural extension officers, senior agricultural officials and policy makers) working with communities, in governments, funding agencies, Research organizations and non-government organizations among others for Agriculture support activities and other development programmes.
Course Level:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Understand validated and participatory approach to designing and implementing effective ISHFM programs
- Apply a participatory approach to designing and implementing an ISHFM program.
- Understand soil fertility concepts and factors that make a soil fertile and productive.
- Gain knowledge on how to identify soil nutrient problems and opportunities.
- Understand soil fertility enhancing strategies that maximize profits and agronomic use efficiency.
- Understand the methodologies and tools to assess suitability, economic feasibility, and impacts of ISHFM on agricultural production, soil fertility, and the environment.
- Understand how to promote ISHFM to farmers and other stakeholders.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
- Introduction to ISHFM and basic concepts
- Soil Fertility and soil health
- Physical, chemical and agronomic characteristics of soils
- Problem Soils (Saline, sodic, saline-sodic, and acid sulfate soils)
- Remedial measures and management techniques for selected problem soils
- Soil Fertility Management
- Overview of nutrition and plant growth
- Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies and corrective measures
- Organic and inorganic fertilizers
- Livestock integration
- Criteria for fertilizer recommendations
- Roles of organic matter and its maintenance
- Integrated plant nutrition systems
- Soil Conservation
- Mechanics of soil erosion
- Soil erosivity and erodibility
- Maximizing on-farm recycling of nutrients
- Mechanical and biological measures for erosion control
- Tillage management
- Crop management practices
- ISHFM Strategies to Maximize Profits and Agronomic Use Efficiency
- Reducing nutrient losses - blocking nutrient flows from leaving the farm
- Better management of available resources - managing internal flows of nutrients
- Improving the efficiency of nutrient uptake
- Economic considerations
- Computer-based decision support tools
- Extension Techniques
- Overview of agricultural extension approaches
- Conceptual framework for agricultural extension campaign
- Extension program planning and implementation
- Farmer training
- Non Agronomic Soil Components
- Support for rural credit systems
- Market-oriented institutional changes
- Improving linkages between research and extension support institutions
Related Courses
Course Administration Details:
METHODOLOGY
The instructor-led trainings are delivered using a blended learning approach and comprise presentations, guided sessions of practical exercise, web-based tutorials, and group work. Our facilitators are seasoned industry experts with years of experience, working as professionals and trainers in these fields. All facilitation and course materials will be offered in English. The participants should be reasonably proficient in English.
ACCREDITATION
Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued an Indepth Research Institute (IRES) certificate certified by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).
TRAINING VENUE
The training will be held at IRES Training Centre. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and lunch. All participants will additionally cater to their travel expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.
ACCOMMODATION AND AIRPORT PICKUP
Accommodation and airport pickup are arranged upon request. For reservations contact the Training Officer.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +254715 077 817
TAILOR-MADE
This training can also be customized to suit the needs of your institution upon request. You can have it delivered in our IRES Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +254715 077 817
PAYMENT
Payment should be transferred to the IRES account through a bank on or before the start of the course. Send proof of payment to [email protected]
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