Conservation Agriculture (CA) practices, with increasing acceptance across the globe, is today being considered as a harbinger for agriculture sustainability and resilient productivity. Its positive impact on natural resources, and
adaptation to and mitigation of climate change effects, is widely acknowledged as a key combatant in the world wide “Blue Revolution”. In Asia, CA is a relatively new introduction and capacity development is vital for development, adaptation and scaling-out for impact across the region and China. Hence, a course on CA shall offer a unique capacity development opportunity to researchers and extensionists associated with natural resource management, environment, agriculture, supply chains and related service sectors.
This Chinese national course links the CIMMYT global and regional CA courses for sustainable intensification of maize and wheat systems, restoration of natural resource degradation and resilient cropping systems with vast
experience from leading CIMMYT experts from Asia, Africa and the Americas. Dr Ken Sayre, Dr ML Jat, Dr H Sidhu, Mr Scott Justice and Dr Jack McHugh have extensive Chinese and Asian agricultural experience and they will build
your knowledge and skills to lead CA research and development in China. The national course on CA in China is being organised by CIMMYT and BISA under the aegis of CGIAR Research Programs on WHEAT, CCAFS, MAIZE and in close collaboration with Provincial RD&E units and the Ningxia Foreign Expert Bureau.
Learning Objectives
• Develop enhanced understanding on the principles of CA,
application of new tools and techniques and CA
implements for diverse production systems, agroecologies
and farmer circumstances
• Synthesize and apply the
information and knowledge related to CA technologies
such as:
- Basic understanding on CA research
- Basic elements of CA adapted to situations
- CA machinery protocols
- Component technologies for CA viz. genotype
adapted to CA, crop enhancement, precision water
management, precision nutrient management,
weed management strategies, crop residue
management
Desired Behavioural Outcomes
• Appreciate the imperative need of nurturing a new
attitudinal approach in the working environment
towards implementing farmer and environmentfriendly
technologies including CA
• Initiate activities, and extend to farmers the locationspecific
CA based management solutions and
technologies
• Deliver short-term ToT courses on CA
Content and Methodology
• CA based crop management technologies: principles
and practices
- Small landholder precision agriculture concepts
and applications
- Calibration, operation and maintenance of CA
machinery
- Component technologies for CA systems
- Impact assessment of CA technologies
- In-field hands-on for CA based crop management
technologies for planting to harvest including
decision support tools (Nutrient Expert)
• Interaction with farmers, stakeholders of public and
private sector domains and CA machinery
manufacturers.
• Field visit to demonstration farm
• Slide presentations, video films, small group
discussions, brainstorming, and exercises
• Individual mentoring & problem-solving approaches
Eligibility for participation
• Women and youth are encouraged to participate.
• Good proficiency in English.
• Expected involvement in conservation agriculture
research for development (CAR4D).
• Demonstrated professional experience and leadership
potential.
• Good health, as the course includes hands-on field
activities
• Medium of instruction: English with some Chinese translation
Course Coordinator
Dr. A.D. Jack McHugh, Sr. Research Engineer
CIMMYT-China
Ph: +86 951 688 6805 Email: a.mchugh@cgiar.org
Training Executive
Mr Dong Liguo. Program Assistant, CIMMYT-China
Ph: +86 135 1957 0303 Email: dlg0303@163.com
Costs and logistics
Participants are responsible for making their own
international and domestic travel arrangements and
covering incidentals.
Participants will be responsible for their hotel
accommodation, meals and incidentals. Transport
to field trips (Wuzhong City) will be supplied.
Costs for banquets, field trip meals, buses and
materials will be 1500RMB per person to be paid
on arrival.
Course location will be Yinchuan (lectures) and
Wuzhong (field) Cities, Ningxia.
Maximum number of participants will be limited,
so apply early to avoid disappointment.
Course length will be 7 days: September 20-27
Apply by sending; your name, contact details &
unit, to the training executive dlg0303@163.com
Application deadline is September 05, 2014.
