Advancing the capacities of Ugandan experts on digital soil mapping
After two years of online training sessions, the GSP conducted its first in-person training in Kampala, Uganda, since the start of the pandemic. Ms Isabel Luotto, soil information and data expert, trained the participants in Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) within the framework of the project “South South Assistance Fund (SSCAF) Project Capacity development on sustainable soil management - Africa”: UGANDA. The training was financed by the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchange (CICETE) and the Ministry of Commerce from the People’s Republic of China and took place from 13 to 17 June 2022 at the College of Computing and Information Sciences of the Makerere University in Kampala (Uganda).
Thirty-five participants representing various governmental institutions and NGOs alongside PhD and Master Students from Uganda were welcomed at the high-level opening of the training. The opening speeches were held by the Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation, Mr Ye Anping; the FAO Representative in Uganda, Dr Querido Antonio; the Associate Professor and Deputy Principal of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Makerere University, Dr Goretti Nabanoga and Mr Kabango Fred, Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture (Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). The course was structured as follows:
- Day 1 - Official opening and Introduction to the training objectives and expected outcomes
- Day 2 - Introduction to Spatial Data, DSM and open-source GIS software
- Day 3 - Soil data and covariate preparation
- Day 4 - Using Google Earth Engine to process and download covariates from the cloud
- Day 5 - Use of a machine-learning algorithm to predict and map soil properties, final exercise and training closing
Two mapping exercises were conducted to illustrate the use of DSM techniques using the statistical programming language R. The first exercise was based on a standard soil profile database from North Macedonia while the second one was based on an example dataset from Rwanda.
The training strengthened and further developed the country’s capacity in DSM. Furthermore, the course presented an ideal setting for connecting and linking national soil data institutions and research entities to collaborate and overcome data fragmentation. Training sessions like these are at the core of the GSP’s capacity development programme and an essential means for the establishment of a country-driven global soil information system (GloSIS). Efforts have already been initiated to appoint an official member of the International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII) for Uganda.
Additionally, participants from relevant data-holding entities shared their contacts to establish an informal community to coordinate activities with the overall objective to generate a national soil information system as well as soil property maps under the framework of INSII.
Over the last two years, online trainings have proven advantageous in terms of outreach and flexibility. In fact, the GSP was able to significantly ramp up its capacity development program by training over 700 national experts. However, the recent revival of in-person trainings such as this one, through its immediate and tangible impact has underscored the importance of live interaction among relevant stakeholders. The GSP welcomes the organization of many more virtual and in-person trainings to leverage the benefits of both.
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