Module 1: Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Its Principles

• Definition and core pillars of sustainable agriculture: Environmental, economic, social.
• Historical context and evolution of sustainable farming concepts.
• Key principles: Ecological balance, resource conservation, biodiversity.
• Contrasting sustainable vs. conventional agriculture.
• The role of sustainable agriculture in food security and climate resilience.
• Practical session: Discussing the sustainability challenges in conventional farming and brainstorming initial sustainable solutions.

Module 2: Soil Health and Fertility Management for Sustainability

• The living soil: Understanding soil biology and the soil food web.
• Building soil organic matter: Compost, cover crops, mulching.
• Minimizing soil disturbance: Conservation tillage and no-till farming.
• Enhancing nutrient cycling through biological processes.
• Soil health assessment and monitoring techniques.
• Practical session: Performing simple field tests for soil infiltration, aggregate stability, and observing soil macrofauna.

Module 3: Sustainable Water Use and Irrigation

• Principles of water conservation in agriculture.
• Water harvesting techniques: Rainwater collection, swales, contour farming.
• Efficient irrigation methods: Drip, micro-sprinklers, smart irrigation.
• Managing water quality and preventing pollution.
• Drought resilience strategies for water-stressed regions.
• Practical session: Designing a basic rainwater harvesting system for a small farm and calculating water storage needs.

Module 4: Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) in Sustainable Systems

• Understanding pest and disease ecology in agroecosystems.
• Cultural control methods: Crop rotation, sanitation, resistant varieties.
• Biological control: Beneficial insects and microbial agents.
• Mechanical and physical controls.
• Minimal use of selective, low-impact pesticides (if necessary).
• Practical session: Identifying common beneficial insects and discussing their roles in pest control.

Module 5: Crop Diversification and Rotation

• Benefits of diversification: Pest and disease reduction, nutrient cycling, risk management.
• Principles of crop rotation: Breaking pest cycles, improving soil fertility.
• Intercropping and polyculture: Maximizing land use and biodiversity.
• Selection of appropriate crop mixes for specific environments.
• Long-term planning for diverse cropping systems.
• Practical session: Developing a multi-year crop rotation plan for a specific farm to enhance soil health and pest management.

Module 6: Agroforestry and Permaculture Design

• Introduction to agroforestry systems: Integrating trees with crops and livestock.
• Benefits of trees on farms: Soil improvement, biodiversity, microclimate regulation.
• Designing various agroforestry configurations (e.g., alley cropping, silvopasture).
• Principles of permaculture design: Zones, sectors, design principles.
• Implementing permaculture elements on a farm.
• Practical session: Sketching a simple permaculture design for a backyard or small farm, incorporating various elements.

Module 7: Organic Farming Principles and Practices

• What is organic farming? Standards, philosophy, and benefits.
• Certification processes for organic produce.
• Organic soil fertility management: Composts, manures, green manures.
• Organic pest and disease control methods.
• Transitioning from conventional to organic farming.
• Practical session: Identifying approved organic inputs and discussing the steps involved in organic certification.

Module 8: Sustainable Livestock Integration

• Role of livestock in sustainable farming systems (nutrient cycling, weed control).
• Rotational grazing and pasture management.
• Sustainable feed sources for livestock.
• Manure management and composting for nutrient recovery.
• Animal welfare considerations in sustainable systems.
• Practical session: Discussing the benefits of integrating livestock into a cropping system and designing a basic rotational grazing plan.

Module 9: Farm Energy Efficiency and Renewable Resources

• Assessing energy consumption on the farm.
• Strategies for energy efficiency: Optimized machinery use, insulation.
• Introduction to renewable energy sources for farms: Solar, wind, biogas.
• Designing and implementing small-scale renewable energy systems.
• Carbon footprint reduction in agriculture.
• Practical session: Identifying energy-saving opportunities on a hypothetical farm and exploring potential renewable energy solutions.

Module 10: Economic Viability and Certification in Sustainable Agriculture

• Analyzing the economic benefits of sustainable practices: Reduced inputs, premium prices.
• Market opportunities for sustainably produced and certified products.
• Understanding various sustainability certifications (e.g., organic, fair trade, regenerative).
• Accessing finance and incentives for sustainable farming.
• Developing a business plan for a sustainable agricultural enterprise.
• Practical session: Calculating the potential economic returns of adopting a specific sustainable practice (e.g., composting) on a 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