Module 1: Introduction to Crop Production and Planning

• Importance of crop production for food security and livelihoods.
• Factors influencing crop growth and yield (climate, soil, genetics, management).
• Crop classification and selection based on agro-ecological zones.
• Principles of effective farm planning: Crop rotation, land use, resource allocation.
• Setting production goals and objectives.
• Practical session: Developing a basic crop rotation plan for a hypothetical farm based on crop type and soil considerations.

Module 2: Soil Health and Nutrient Management

• Understanding soil properties: Texture, structure, pH, organic matter.
• Importance of soil testing and interpretation of results.
• Essential plant nutrients: Macronutrients and micronutrients.
• Principles of sustainable soil fertility management.
• Managing soil erosion and degradation.
• Practical session: Performing a basic soil pH test and visual assessment of soil structure from different samples.

Module 3: Seed Selection, Sowing, and Plant Establishment

• Importance of quality seeds and improved varieties.
• Seed selection criteria: Adaptability, yield potential, disease resistance.
• Seed treatment techniques for improved germination and seedling health.
• Sowing methods: Broadcasting, row planting, dibbling, mechanical planting.
• Nursery management and transplanting techniques.
• Practical session: Demonstrating proper seedbed preparation, sowing techniques, and seedling care.

Module 4: Water Management and Irrigation Techniques

• Crop water requirements and water use efficiency.
• Sources of water for irrigation and water quality assessment.
• Traditional and modern irrigation methods: Furrow, basin, sprinkler, drip, micro-irrigation.
• Scheduling irrigation: When and how much water to apply.
• Rainwater harvesting and conservation techniques.
• Practical session: Calculating crop water requirements and demonstrating the setup of a simple drip irrigation system.

Module 5: Integrated Pest and Disease Management

• Principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Identifying common crop pests and their life cycles.
• Recognizing major crop diseases and their symptoms.
• Biological, cultural, chemical, and mechanical control methods.
• Safe handling and application of pesticides (if used).
• Practical session: Identifying common pests and diseases on plant samples and discussing appropriate control measures.

Module 6: Crop Nutrition and Fertilizer Application

• Role of major and minor nutrients in plant growth.
• Types of fertilizers: Organic (manures, compost) and inorganic.
• Fertilizer recommendations based on soil test results and crop needs.
• Methods of fertilizer application: Basal, top dressing, foliar.
• Nutrient use efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.
• Practical session: Calculating fertilizer rates for a specific crop and demonstrating different application methods.

Module 7: Weeding and Crop Protection Strategies

• Impact of weeds on crop yield and quality.
• Weed identification and classification.
• Weed control methods: Manual, mechanical, cultural, chemical.
• Safe and effective use of herbicides (if used).
• Other crop protection measures: Bird scaring, fencing.
• Practical session: Identifying common weeds and discussing suitable control strategies for a given crop.

Module 8: Harvesting, Post-Harvest Handling, and Storage

• Determining optimal harvesting time for different crops.
• Proper harvesting techniques to minimize damage.
• Cleaning, sorting, grading, and packaging of fresh produce.
• Principles of post-harvest physiology and spoilage.
• Basic storage methods: On-farm storage, cold storage, dry storage.
• Practical session: Demonstrating proper harvesting and initial post-harvest handling for a selected crop.

Module 9: Crop Diversification and Sustainable Farming Systems

• Benefits of crop diversification: Risk reduction, soil health, pest control.
• Intercropping, mixed cropping, and relay cropping.
• Introduction to agroforestry and its benefits.
• Principles of organic farming and conservation agriculture.
• Building resilient farming systems.
• Practical session: Designing a diversified cropping system for a hypothetical farm to enhance resilience and productivity.

Module 10: Farm Record Keeping and Economic Analysis for Crop Production

• Importance of accurate farm records (production, input use, sales).
• Types of records to keep for crop enterprises.
• Basic economic analysis: Cost of production, gross margin, net farm income.
• Analyzing profitability and identifying areas for improvement.
• Using records for informed decision-making and planning.
• Practical session: Practicing filling out basic farm record sheets and calculating the gross margin for a single crop enterprise.

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