Trainings & Workshops
Farm Demonstration of Crop-Water Management
Ajay taught a three day workshop on the optimal use of water in irrigation and provided hands on field training with the AWATT water specialist Hakeem Khan. This workshop provided technical details of irrigation methods (furrow, flood, sprinkler, and drip), practical development of irrigation scheduling and drip irrigation systems for high value crops. The workshop was taught to university, MAIL, selected NGO and input supplier employees who will manage demonstration farms in the future. Ajay provided the curriculum, including field and classroom exercises to meet learning objectives, and draft manuals
Cost and Return Estimates Workshop
The program began with a general introduction of New Mexico. This introduction was done to help the participants gain a little understanding of where the instructors are from and our agriculture types to indicate that we understand irrigated farming in arid and semi-arid areas. Additionally, the information presented at this point indicated several similarities that exist between New Mexico and Afghanistan. This common ground set the stage for the rest of the discussion that took place.
Training for Women in Balkh Province
In order to build capacity of women in income generating activities, a short-term training program for women of Balkh province was conducted by AWATT from 4th June through 18th June, 2009. The training was conducted in collaboration with Ms. Fariba Majeed, Director of Women Affairs, Balkh Province by using their facilities and local representatives of the Home Economics Department of MAIL.
Integrated Pest Management Workshop
Integrated Pest Management workshop promoted prevention over remediation and advocated integration of at least two or more strategies to achieve long-term solutions for pest control.
Soil and Crop Management Training
This training was designed to use a case study agricultural farm business as the core tool for learning about soil and crop management systems. The training emphasized a systems approach, where cropping decisions are made based on an understanding of the entire farm system and not on single elements within the system. In the course, students will learn through discovery, personal research, group presentation, and discussion, and not through traditional lecture format. Rather than teach facts, the instructor will encouraged discovery of principles that apply to cropping systems, regardless of farm type, size, or complexity. Participants learned some principles of soil and crop management in the course, but more importantly, they learned how to implement the case study approach of teaching and learning.
Soil Fertility Management Training
This Soil Fertility Management course developed the basic principles of soil fertility and fertilizer management. Upon completion of the course, however, student developed a basic understanding of plant nutrition-soil fertility-environmental relationships to make yourself a nutrient management specialist by applying this knowledge to your chosen vocation or pursuing advanced courses.
Forage Technology Program
The AWATT-Forage Program Team Leader has established good working relations with the forage stakeholders; especially, sedentary and Kuchi farmers in Balkh Province. A large number of farmers and Kuchi have been trained on forage technology transfer; where 686 farmers were trained on forage demo plots, 246 farmers and 40 livestock farmer women were also trained on forage field days. In addition AWATT-Forage program has established working ties with most of the NGOs who have been working in Balkh.