Module 1: Introduction to GIS for Agriculture and Food Security

• Understanding agricultural systems and food security challenges.
• Core GIS concepts: Spatial data types (vector, raster) in an agricultural context.
• Overview of GIS software used in agriculture (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Agricultural data sources: Field surveys, GPS, remote sensing, soil maps.
• Importance of spatial thinking for sustainable agriculture.
• Practical session: Exploring diverse agricultural datasets in a GIS environment and understanding their attributes.

Module 2: Agricultural Data Management and Acquisition

• Planning field data collection using GPS and mobile GIS devices for agriculture.
• Importing and integrating various agricultural data formats (e.g., yield monitor data, soil samples).
• Georeferencing historical farm maps and aerial photos for land management.
• Building and managing agricultural spatial databases.
• Ensuring data quality and accuracy for farm-level analysis.
• Practical session: Importing GPS data from field collection, georeferencing an old farm map, and setting up a basic agricultural geodatabase.

Module 3: Spatial Analysis for Crop and Land Management

• Land suitability analysis: Identifying optimal areas for specific crops based on soil, climate, and topography.
• Proximity analysis: Buffering for pest management zones or buffer strips around water bodies.
• Overlay analysis: Combining different agricultural layers (e.g., soil types with yield data).
• Crop yield mapping and analysis: Identifying high and low productivity zones.
• Analyzing land tenure and farm parcel boundaries.
• Practical session: Performing land suitability analysis for a selected crop and generating a yield variability map.

Module 4: Remote Sensing for Agricultural Monitoring

• Basics of remote sensing for agricultural applications (satellite imagery, drone data).
• Integrating remote sensing data into GIS for crop monitoring.
• Assessing crop health and vigor using spectral indices (e.g., NDVI, EVI).
• Crop type mapping and acreage estimation.
• Monitoring drought stress and irrigation needs.
• Practical session: Importing satellite imagery into GIS, calculating NDVI, and interpreting crop health maps.

Module 5: Precision Agriculture and Site-Specific Management

• Principles of precision agriculture and variable rate application.
• Mapping within-field variability (soil properties, yield).
• Creating prescription maps for variable rate fertilizer, water, or pesticide application.
• Integrating sensor data (e.g., soil sensors, drone imagery) into GIS.
• Economic benefits of precision agriculture using GIS.
• Practical session: Generating a prescription map for variable fertilizer application based on yield data.

Module 6: GIS for Livestock and Rangeland Management

• Mapping grazing lands and pasture quality.
• Assessing rangeland health and degradation.
• Analyzing livestock movement and grazing patterns.
• Identifying optimal locations for water points and animal shelters.
• Modeling carrying capacity of rangelands.
• Practical session: Mapping rangeland vegetation types and analyzing potential grazing pressure.

Module 7: Food Security Analysis and Vulnerability Mapping

• Concepts of food security components: Availability, access, utilization, stability.
• Mapping food insecurity indicators (e.g., poverty, access to markets, nutritional status).
• Identifying food deficit areas and vulnerable populations.
• Analyzing food supply chains and market access.
• Using GIS for early warning systems in food crises.
• Practical session: Creating a composite food security vulnerability map based on multiple indicators.

Module 8: Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Adaptation Strategies

• Mapping climate change impacts on crop suitability and yield.
• Analyzing historical climate data and future climate projections.
• Identifying areas vulnerable to climate change-induced agricultural risks (e.g., drought, floods).
• Using GIS to plan for climate-smart agriculture interventions.
• Assessing land degradation and desertification.
• Practical session: Visualizing climate change projections and identifying areas with significant shifts in crop suitability.

Module 9: GIS for Agricultural Policy and Planning

• Supporting land use planning for agricultural development.
• Identifying areas for agricultural expansion or conservation.
• Mapping and analyzing agricultural subsidies and programs.
• Assessing the impact of agricultural policies on land use and environment.
• Using GIS for agricultural census and statistics.
• Practical session: Analyzing the spatial distribution of agricultural subsidies and their potential impact.

Module 10: Case Studies and Advanced Applications in Agri-GIS

• Review of all learned GIS techniques in an agricultural context.
• Guided individual or group project work on a comprehensive agri-GIS problem.
• Discussion of real-world case studies illustrating diverse applications (e.g., disease mapping, value chain analysis).
• Exploring advanced topics: Machine learning in agriculture, big data analytics for smart farming.
• Best practices for documenting and presenting agricultural GIS projects.
• Practical session: Applying a combination of learned techniques to complete a mini-project on an agricultural or food security issue.

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