Webinar Training Manual

Topic: African Farmers, What Next?

*Empowering African Farmers for Sustainable Agriculture and Future Growth
1.Intoduction
Overview Of the Webinar
This webinar is designed to explore the future of farming in Africa, addressing key challenges
while highlighting opportunities for growth. Participants will gain insights into innovative
farming techniques, digital tools and policy frameworks that can enhance productivity and
sustainability.
Objectives
*Identify major challenges African farmers face.
*Explore emerging opportunities in agriculture.
*Discuss practical strategies for sustainable farming.
*Share success stories and best practices.
*Encourage collaboration among stakeholders.
Target Audience
*Small scale suburban farmers
*Agribusiness entrepreneurs
*Agricultural extension officers
*Policymakers and researchers
*NGOs and development agencies

2.Module 1: Current Challenges Facing African Farmers

*Key Discussion Points:
*Climate Change: Erratic weather patterns, droughts, and floods.
*Access to finance: Limited credit facilities and high-interest rates.
*Market Access: Poor infrastructure and middlemen exploitation.
*Technology Gaps: Low adoption of modern farming tools.
*Policy Issues: Inconsistent government policies and land tenure systems.
Activity: *Poll-What is the biggest challenge you face as a farmer?
3. Module 2: Opportunities for African Farmers
Key Discussion Points:
Agri Tech Solutions:*Mobile apps for weather forecasts like World Water, AccuWeather, The
Weather Channel-Radar, e-market place.
*Sustainable Practices: Conservation agriculture, agroforestry.
(1) Conservation agriculture: This is a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance
(i.e. no tillage), maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species.
(2) Agroforestry: Cultivation and use of trees and shrubs with crops and livestock in sustainable
agricultural systems.
Export Markets: Growing demand for organic (putting nature first, encouraging practices that
improve soil quality) and fair-trade products (better prices, safe working conditions, local
sustainability).
Funding Opportunities: Grants, crowdfunding, and impact investing.
*Case Study: *How a Kenyan farmer increased yields using drip irrigation.

4. Module 3: Strategies for Future Success

*Key Discussion Points
Climate-Smart Agriculture: Drought-resistant crops, Water harvesting.
*Drought-resistant crop like Sorghum is highly adaptable and can be grown in poor soils with
minimal rainfall. Millets, including pearl millet and finger millet, are hardy crops commonly
grown in arid regions of Africa and Asia.
*These are some drought-Resistant crops you should consider growing in Africa especially in
Nigeria: Sorghum, millet, Cowpea, Groundnuts, Cassava, Maize, Sweet Potatoes, Plantains,
Bambara nuts, Okra Y am. To successfully grow these drought-resistant crops in Africa, farmers
need to practice proper irrigation and water conservation techniques. This includes using drip
irrigation systems, mulching and planting drought-resistant varieties of crops. It is also important
for farmers to choose the right location for their crops, as certain areas of the country are more
prone to drought than others.
*Let's look at 3 of these crops
(1) Sorghum: Sorghum is a type of grain that is native to Africa and is known for its ability to
withstand prolonged periods of drought. It is a hardy crop that can tolerate extreme temperatures
and low levels of rainfall. Sorghum is an important source of food for both humans and livestock
and can be sold as a grain or used to produce flour, beer and other products.
2.Millet: Millet is a grain that is native to Africa and is known for its ability to withstand drought.
It is a hardy crop that can grow in poor soil and requires minimal irrigation. Millet is a good
source of protein and is an important staple food in many parts of Africa. It can be sold as a grain
or used to produce flour and other products.
3.Cowpeas: Cowpeas is a type of legume that is high in protein and is an important source of
food for both humans and livestock. They can be grown as a dry grain or as a fresh vegetable and
can be sold in local markets or processed into products such as canned bean or flour.
4.Cassava: Cassava is a starchy root crop that is widely grown in Africa and is an important
source of food for many people. It can be sold as a fresh or dried root or processed into flour,
chips and ethanol.
*What is Water-harvesting techniques?
This process involves collection and storage of rainwater with the help of artificially designed
systems, that runs off natural or man-made catchment areas e.g. roof-top, compound, Rocky
surface, hill slopes or artificially repaired impervious/semi-pervious land surface. So techniques
for collecting and managing rainfall and surface runoff sustainably are referred to as 'Water
Harvesting techniques’. The three main types of rainwater harvesting system are: direct pump,
indirect pump and indirect gravity. In certain situations, it may be possible to have a pure gravity
system, though such occasions are rare.

Cooperatives: Collective bargaining for better prices

By banding together in cooperatives, farmers can amplify their voices and negotiate more
favorable terms with buyers, suppliers and other stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain.
Collective bargaining not only enhances the economic position of small-scale farmers but also
promotes fair trade practices.

*Agribusiness: *Moving from subsistence to commercial farming.

Mechanization gives an opportunity for small-holder farmers to transit from subsistence to
commercial farming.
Mechanization Strategies are:
1.Identification, access and delivery of the right mechanization equipment for the different
operations.
2.Farmer aggregation, clustering and training on mechanization and farming as a business.
3.Identification of local entrepreneurs and training them to be mechanization service providers.
4.Training of tractor operators in mechanization service provision.
5.Establish Mechanization Model Farms (MMF) to provide technology demonstration and
capacity building.

*Digital Tools: *Using apps like Farm Crowdy, Hello Tractor.

*Cooperatives: *Collective bargaining for better prices.
Agribusiness: *Moving from subsistence to commercial farming.

5.Module 4: Case Studies and Success Stories*

*Nigeria: *Government-le d initiatives boosting productivity.
South Africa: *Women farmers dominating niche markets.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Key Takeaways:
• Farmers must embrace innovation and sustainability.
• Collaboration is key to overcoming challenges.
• Continuous learning and adaptation are essential.
• Closing Remark: “The Future of African agriculture is bright. So, let's work together to
unlock its potential!".

Water Harvesting Training Module

Objective: Teach farmers how to collect store and use rainwater efficiently.
Key Topics
Why Water Harvesting?
-Reduces drought risks
-Improves crop yields
-Saves money on irrigation
*Rainwater harvesting helps manage storm water runoff to prevent erosion, flooding and poor
water quality in our lakes and streams.... Rainwater systems counteract storm water runoff and
thereby reduce flooding, erosion and ground water contamination.
The importance of harvesting rainwater lies in the fact that it can be stored for future use. Just as
it can be used directly so also the stored water can be utilized to revitalize the ground level water
and improve its quality... Harvesting rainwater checks surface run-off water and reduces soil
erosion.
Simple Water Harvesting Techniques:
(1) Rooftop harvesting (using gutters and tanks)
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is a technique used for the conservation of water. In this technique,
the rainwater that has fallen on the roof of houses or buildings is collected in storage or
underground tanks with the help of pipes.
(2) Contour trenches & swales (to slow runoff)
What are contour trenches?
Contour trenches are ditches dug along a hillside in such a way that they follow a contour and
run perpendicular to the flow of water. The soil excavated from the ditch is used to form a berm
on the downhill edge of the ditch.
*What is a Swale?
A Swale is a combination of a trench and a berm, and it sits on the contour line. The water in
Swale doesn't travel downhill. It just sits there and seeps into the berm below. Often a Swale is
shaped as a wide shallow trench (like a pan) with a berm below.
(3) Ponds and small dams (for community use)
*A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams.
Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as
irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture and navigability. A dam can also be
used to collect or store water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally
serve the primary purpose of retaining water.
A pond is a natural or man-made occurrence of water, smaller than a lake, sometimes in a
floodplain, sometimes occurring seasonally. A pond can also be seen as a small area of still, fresh
water. It is different from a river or a stream because it does not have moving water and it differs
from a lake because it has a small area and is no more than around 1.8m deep.
(4) Zai pits & half-moon basins (for dry areas)
*Zai pit is a traditional land rehabilitation technology "invented" by farmers in Burkina Faso to
rehabilitate degraded drylands and to restore soil fertility to the benefit of farmers living in
drylands.
How it works: Small pits 20-30cm are diameter and 10-20cm deep are dug into degraded soils,
often hard pans.
*Half-moon basins/pits are water harvesting techniques that assist crop growth in harsh climatic
conditions, improving water and nutrient availability. It is also a rainwater harvesting technique
consisting in digging semi-lunar holes in the ground with the opening perpendicular to the flow
of water.
*Storage & Usage
-Use covered tanks to prevent evaporation
-Drip irrigation for efficient water use
-Avoid contamination (keep animals away)
*Practical Activity
Farmers design a simple water harvesting plan for their farms.

2.Fund Management Training Module

Objective: Help farmers manage money for farming projects.
Key Topics:
Basic Financial Literacy:
-Difference between Project Funds, Profits and Emergency Farm
Fund

Project Funding refers to the process of obtaining financial resources for the purpose of
implementing a specific project or initiative. This can come from various sources including
government grants, private investors and loans among others while Emergency Farm Fund is a
cash reserve that's specifically set aside for unplanned expenses or financial emergencies in the
farm. The goal of this fund is to respond to critical, time-sensitive needs by helping farmers
recover from their losses, continue farming and/or build resilience for future extreme weather
events. In Agric Economics, another name for emergency fund is Contingency Fund, is a
personal budget set aside as a financial safety net for future mishaps or unexpected expenses. An
emergency fund is also known as a rainy-day fund.
-Keeping simple records (income & expenses)
How do you record income and expenses?
As with assets and liability items, items of income and expenses are recorded in nominal ledger
accounts according to set rules.
Expenses are always recorded as debit entries in expense accounts and income items are always
recorded as credit entries in income accounts.
Budgeting For Farming
• Plan costs (seeds, tools, labor).
• Set aside emergency funds.
• Avoid any form of debt

3. Project Implementation
Objectives: Guide farmers in successfully executing farming projects.
• Set clear goals on focus
• Identify needed resources (land, labor, inputs)
• Step-by-Step Implementation
• Break tasks into small steps (e.g. Land preparation, planting, weeding)
• Assign roles (who does what?)
• Set timelines (When to plant, harvest, sell)

Problem-Solving:
• What if rains fail? (Use harvested water)
• What if pests attack? (Use organic pesticides)

4. Monitoring & Evaluation (M & E)

Training Module
Objectives: Teach farmers how to track progress and improve results.
Key Topics:
Why M & E Matters?
Tracks success & identifies problems early
Simple Monitoring Tools
Record-keeping*(yields, expenses, rainfall)
Weekly check-ins*(Did we follow the plan?)
Evaluation Questions:
Did we meet our goals?
What worked well?
What needs improvement?