Supporting strengthening of the National Agrarian Extension System in Mozambique
April 2, 2018 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is providing technical assistance for the training of national technicians in agrarian extension to expand and consolidate the Methodology of Farmer Field Schools (FFS)) throughout the country.
The training, which takes place in the Gondola district of the province of Manica until June 22th of this year, is held in collaboration with the National Directorate of Agrarian Extension (DNEA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA) within the project "Strengthening of the National Capacity for the Implementation of the Methodology of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), implemented by FAO.
The training will integrate visits to agricultural research institutions and seed companies as well as field visits to the local FFS.
"The course is a FAO contribution so that the country, through the DNEA, can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and consolidate the extension network in Mozambique to achieve more sustainable levels of productivity, and introduce adaptable technologies to climate changes," said Eugénio Macamo, Project Coordinator and Programme Officer in FAO.
The masters training with a duration of three-months, budgeted at 300 thousand dollars, will consist of theoretical lessons and practical exercises integrated in the areas of agriculture and livestock (cultivation of cereals, legumes, horticulture, soil and water management , seed production, nutrition, agro-business, integrated pest identification and control, poultry farming, beekeeping and the development of new technologies adapted to climate changes).
During the opening ceremony of the course held in Gondola, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Food Security (DPASA) of Manica, Sonia Namahumbo, stressed that "this training happens at a time when in some regions of Mozambique the agrarian campaign is compromised because of the invasion of the fall army worm, lethal plant yellowing and other pests that undermine the crop cycle, calling on participants to discuss ideas to address this issue".
The FFS Methodology has been implemented in Mozambique since 2002 by FAO and the National Directorate of Agrarian Extension (DNEA).
It should be noted that in the last 15 years, training courses for extension workers in FFS methodologies have already included more than 3,000 Mozambican technicians.