This 5-day intensive training course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Techniques, equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills to adapt to climate change, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance food security. Designed for farmers, agricultural extension workers, policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners, this course offers a deep dive into innovative and sustainable agricultural practices that build resilience in farming systems. Through a blend of lectures, interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and real-world case studies, attendees will learn to implement CSA approaches to improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and foster more resilient agricultural livelihoods.
The curriculum begins with an introduction to climate change and climate-smart agriculture, and then moves into climate-smart crop production practices and climate-smart livestock management. It then delves into sustainable water management in agriculture and crucial aspects of soil health management for climate resilience. Subsequent modules focus on agroforestry and diversified farming systems, and the utilization of climate information services for farmers. The course also covers risk management and climate change adaptation strategies, introduces policy and institutional frameworks for CSA, and explores the economic benefits and strategies for scaling up climate-Smart Agriculture, ensuring a holistic understanding of climate-resilient farming.
Who Should Attend the Training
- Farmers and farmer cooperative leaders
- Agricultural extension officers and advisors
- Agronomists and agricultural consultants
- Rural development professionals
- Environmental conservationists
- Policymakers and government officials in agriculture and climate change
- Researchers in agriculture and climate science
- NGO and community-based organization staff working in agriculture
Objectives of the Training
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental concepts of climate change, its impacts on agriculture, and the principles of Climate-Smart Agriculture.
- Identify and implement various climate-smart crop production practices, including drought-resistant varieties and efficient cropping systems.
- Apply climate-smart livestock management techniques to improve productivity and reduce emissions.
- Implement sustainable water management strategies, such as efficient irrigation and rainwater harvesting, for climate resilience.
- Employ practices to enhance soil health and carbon sequestration in agricultural landscapes.
- Design and integrate agroforestry systems and promote diversified farming for increased resilience.
- Utilize climate information services and early warning systems for informed decision-making in farming.
- Develop and implement risk management and climate change adaptation strategies at the farm and community levels.
- Understand relevant policies and institutional frameworks supporting climate-smart agriculture.
- Assess the economic benefits of adopting CSA practices and explore avenues for scaling up implementation.
Personal Benefits
- Enhance farming resilience: Learn to adapt your agricultural practices to changing climatic conditions.
- Increase productivity: Discover techniques to maintain or boost yields under climate stress.
- Reduce environmental impact: Implement practices that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources.
- Improve profitability: Adopt efficient methods that can lead to cost savings and better market access.
- Future-proof your farm/career: Gain essential knowledge for sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.
Organizational Benefits
- Build resilient agricultural systems: Implement practices that strengthen food security and rural livelihoods against climate shocks.
- Promote sustainable development: Contribute to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation goals.
- Increase productivity and efficiency: Introduce climate-smart techniques that can lead to higher yields and better resource use.
- Inform policy and strategy: Equip staff with the knowledge to design and implement effective CSA programs and policies.
- Attract funding and partnerships: Demonstrate commitment to climate action, opening doors for green finance and collaborations.
Training Methodology
- Interactive lectures and presentations covering scientific principles and practical applications of CSA.
- Group discussions and brainstorming sessions on local climate challenges and CSA solutions.
- Hands-on activities for practical skill development (e.g., soil health assessment, simple water harvesting design).
- Case studies highlighting successful CSA implementations from various regions.
- Field visits to exemplary climate-smart farms or research stations (if applicable and feasible).
- Q&A sessions with expert trainers.
- Action planning exercises for implementing CSA techniques.
Trainer Experience
Our trainers are highly experienced agricultural scientists, climate change adaptation specialists, and sustainable development practitioners with extensive backgrounds in implementing Climate-Smart Agriculture initiatives globally. They possess advanced degrees in agronomy, environmental science, climate studies, or related fields, and have a proven track record of working with farming communities, government agencies, international organizations, and research institutions. Their practical insights, gained from direct engagement in developing and scaling CSA solutions, ensure that participants receive instruction that is both theoretically sound and rich with real-world examples, practical tools, and actionable strategies for building climate resilience in agricultural systems.
Quality Statement
We are committed to delivering high-quality training programs that are both comprehensive and practical. Our courses are meticulously designed, continually updated to reflect the latest scientific advancements and best practices in Climate-Smart Agriculture, and delivered by expert instructors. We strive to empower participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their respective fields, ensuring a valuable and impactful learning experience that directly translates to real-world application.
Tailor-made Courses
We understand that every organization has unique training needs. We offer customized Climate-Smart Agriculture Techniques courses designed to address your specific crop types, livestock systems, agro-ecological zones, or climate change challenges. Whether you need to focus on drought resilience in arid regions, specific greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, or integrating CSA with existing development programs, we can develop a bespoke training solution to meet your requirements. Please contact us to discuss how we can tailor a program for your team.
Course Duration: 5 days
Training fee: USD 1300
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
