Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change and Climate-Smart Agriculture

• Understanding climate change: Causes, impacts, and future projections.
• Impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security.
• Definition and three pillars of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Adaptation, Mitigation, Food Security.
• The role of CSA in achieving sustainable development goals.
• Overview of different CSA approaches and their relevance.
• Practical session: Analyzing local climate data (temperature, rainfall patterns) to identify trends and potential impacts on agriculture.

Module 2: Climate-Smart Crop Production Practices

• Selecting climate-resilient crop varieties: Drought-tolerant, flood-tolerant, heat-tolerant.
• Optimizing planting dates and cropping calendars for changing seasons.
• Efficient fertilizer management and nutrient cycling.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in a changing climate.
• Conservation agriculture principles: Minimum tillage, permanent soil cover, crop rotation.
• Practical session: Designing a crop rotation plan incorporating climate-smart principles for a specific farm scenario.

Module 3: Climate-Smart Livestock Management

• Improving feed and fodder management under variable climate conditions.
• Water management for livestock: Efficient watering systems, water harvesting.
• Heat stress management strategies for livestock.
• Reducing enteric methane emissions and manure management for mitigation.
• Sustainable grazing practices and pasture management.
• Practical session: Discussing and designing a basic feed diversification plan for livestock during a dry spell.

Module 4: Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture

• Principles of efficient water use in crop production.
• Water harvesting techniques: Rainwater harvesting, small dams, contour farming.
• Efficient irrigation methods: Drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, micro-irrigation.
• Managing water resources in rain-fed and irrigated systems.
• Water quality protection in agricultural landscapes.
• Practical session: Calculating water requirements for a specific crop and designing a simple drip irrigation layout.

Module 5: Soil Health Management for Climate Resilience

• Importance of healthy soils for climate resilience and productivity.
• Building soil organic matter: Composting, mulching, cover cropping.
• Integrated nutrient management and balanced fertilization.
• Managing soil erosion in a changing climate.
• The role of soil carbon sequestration in climate change mitigation.
• Practical session: Demonstrating basic soil health assessment techniques (e.g., infiltration test, visual soil assessment).

Module 6: Agroforestry and Diversified Farming Systems

• Introduction to agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock.
• Benefits of agroforestry for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Designing and implementing various agroforestry systems (e.g., alley cropping, silvopasture).
• Crop diversification and integration of different farming enterprises.
• Ecosystem services provided by diversified systems.
• Practical session: Designing an agroforestry system suitable for a specific farm based on its size and existing crops/livestock.

Module 7: Climate Information Services for Farmers

• Understanding climate data and forecasts (seasonal, short-term).
• Accessing and interpreting climate information from various sources.
• Using early warning systems for extreme weather events.
• Translating climate information into actionable farming decisions.
• The role of mobile technology and digital platforms in disseminating climate information.
• Practical session: Accessing and interpreting a seasonal climate forecast for a hypothetical agricultural region and discussing its implications for planting decisions.

Module 8: Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

• Identifying climate-related risks in agriculture (droughts, floods, pests).
• Developing farm-level adaptation plans.
• Diversification of livelihoods as an adaptation strategy.
• Crop and livestock insurance schemes for climate risk management.
• Community-based adaptation planning.
• Practical session: Developing a risk assessment matrix for a specific farm and brainstorming adaptation strategies for identified climate risks.

Module 9: Policy and Institutional Frameworks for CSA

• National and international policies supporting climate-smart agriculture.
• Role of government, NGOs, and private sector in promoting CSA.
• Enabling environments for CSA adoption (e.g., finance, research, extension).
• Mainstreaming CSA into agricultural development plans.
• Farmer organizations and their role in collective action for CSA.
• Practical session: Discussing the strengths and weaknesses of existing agricultural policies in supporting CSA adoption.

Module 10: Economic Benefits and Scaling Up Climate-Smart Agriculture

• Cost-benefit analysis of adopting CSA practices.
• Accessing climate finance and incentives for CSA.
• Market opportunities for climate-smart products.
• Strategies for scaling up CSA adoption: Extension, farmer-to-farmer learning.
• Monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) for CSA outcomes.
• Practical session: Calculating the potential economic benefits of adopting a specific CSA technique (e.g., conservation agriculture) on a hypothetical farm.

Requirements:

·       Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

·       Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.

2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588