Posts Tagged: Training

The Free University Training Center of Bazaleti hosted a three-day training for agribusiness representatives. USAID’s Restoring Efficiency through Agriculture Production (REAP) program organized the event with a Consortium of Free University and the Agricultural University.

The training provided attendees from over 21 agricultural businesses with detailed information on the benefits and requirements for Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) compliance. During the information sessions, there were various opportunities for the attendees from different agro-sectors to exchange their ideas of success and personal experiences about production and exporting goods on the EU market.

On October 29th, USAID/REAP organized a seminar for nine grant recipient businesses and three Branding Companies to give company executives, brand managers and marketing staff a variety of insights and recommendations that will influence how they build and exploit world-class branding, packaging and marketing solutions. The seminar was conducted by Jeffrey Spear.

The Commercial Farm Service Program (CFSP), implemented by CNFA and funded by USAID, held the country’s first Pesticide Applicators’ Training with the aim to increase the awareness of the dangers of pesticides and to enable professional or semi-professional agronomists to become Government of Ethiopia certified pesticide applicators.  The use of improved agricultural inputs has been promoted in Ethiopia to combat the common problem of crop loss – one category of these inputs is pesticides. However, while the use of pesticides has been promoted, there are many dangers that can result from the misuse of these products.

In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Oromia Bureau of Agriculture and CropLife Ethiopia, CFSP organized the top professionals in pesticide use and handling in Ethiopia to compile a 15-module, three week training course in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. “When the program came with the proposal to conduct applicator training, our office approved and ensured its collaboration in every way possible,” said W/o Hiwot Lemma, the director of the Plant Protection Directorate at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture during the opening of the training.  The program helped the trainees understand the standards for safe handling and safe application of pesticides. Those who successfully completed the training are now expected to train farmers and pesticide dealers in addition to providing services as a newly certified pesticide applicator.

Such applicators are in a high demand in the country as they are able to render environmentally sound pesticide application services to farmers in collaboration with the CFSP-established Farm Service Centers (FSCs).  For more information about CFSP, click here.

The USAID – US Agency for International Development Commercial Farm Service Program, implemented by CNFA as part of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future Initiative, held a three-week pesticide applicators’ training in June for agronomists in Ethiopia. Through the training, individuals learned the standards for safe handling and application of pesticides and were provided with the information and skills they need to safely apply restricted use pesticides.

On July 4, representatives from USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture attended a ceremony held for each trainee who passed the final test. Each certified participant received a Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kit and will now have the opportunity to help other farmers safely handle pesticides.

Through the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer, Ron Overmyer provided voluntary technical assistance to the Samora Macher Farmer Association.

Read about a recent training held by CNFA staff as part of the USAID-supported Agro-Inputs Project in Bangladesh.

The first Field Day photos are in from Tajikistan!

Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteers Bob Morris, Ross Penhallegon and Kate Penhallegon are sharing their expertise by holding Field Days at the “Akmal” Dehkan apricot farm and the “Qalai Surkh” Production Cooperative.

While in general Field Days are a great opportunity for local farmers to get hands on experience and training, this assignment has Bob, Ross and Kate focusing on fruit and vegetable processing; developing recipes for using apricots, tomatoes, cucumbers, water melons and melons at home; enhancing methods for pruning and forming apricot trees after the harvest; instruction on necessary tillage, fertilizing and watering techniques; as well as the specifics, principles, and advantages of drip irrigation to reduce watering costs.

CNFA HQ staff, Eric Sedlacek and Rachel Storey, who are currently traveling in Tajikistan, attended one of the Field Days in the Sughd Province at the “Qalai Surkh” Production Cooperative.

See all the photos on our Facebook page!

USAID’s Commercial Farm Service Program and USAID’s Feed the Future Livestock Market Development project, both implemented by CNFA, hosted a half-day training and networking workshop at their office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this past Thursday.

Nine different media agencies including representatives from radio, newspaper and television participated in the event. During the workshop, CNFA provided information on its current USAID funded projects and helped facilitate a discussion on how the media covers development programs. In addition, Ato Mekuria Mekasha, an assistant professor, who has years of experience in conducting mass media trainings, engaged the audience with a presentation on “Eye Catching Story Writing.” The workshop concluded with the media actively participating in a Q&A session and presented several recommendations on how development organizations can better engage the media.