The trainees must share the lessons with their communities

16 June, Tete- About 100 public sector agricultural extension workers from the provinces of Gaza, Maputo, Tete and Manica were trained by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on seeds multiplication and conservation farming through the implementation of the emergency programme.

Speaking during the opening of the training in Tete province, where the first training took place, the head of the Provincial Services of Rural Extension (SPER), Fernando Assane, said that the training will be an added value for the technicians covered, opening space for sharing experiences in this area.

"It is an opportunity to acquire knowledge and share experiences, taking into account the current climate change situation that has affected some regions of this province," said Fernando Assane.

For the FAO consultant, Inacio T. Nhancale, after training, the trainees will be up to share the knowledge they have gained, ensuring that information is passed on to producers in their communities.

"This training is a means by which extension agents will support farmers affected by climate change to adapt and suit their production systems and practices, adopting suitable technologies to their local conditions of production."

In addition to the theoretical part of the training, the participants were exposed to practical lessons for soil assessment and small-scale mechanization, using manual tools for sowing and fertilizers, which contribute to reduce time and physical effort of the producers in sowing and fertilization.

After training, extension workers will be able to do seed quality control, analyse soil fertility under local conditions and provide technical assistance to producers in drought-affected areas, so that they are able to adopt and apply conservation agriculture techniques for sustainable and resilient production.

This FAO intervention is a response to El Nino phenomenon and it aims to contribute to the development of basic technical knowledge that will help to reduce foreign aid in food, improve food security and build effective resilience in communities.