Liberia

Training and technical assistance with agricultural practices

Project facilitators trained smallholder farmers on improved agricultural practices, farm management and organizational development. A total of 255 farmers participated in training on crop management techniques including underbrushing, black pod removal and shade management and learned to construct solar dryers. With regard to business and association management, 735 cocoa farmers participated in Farming as a Business training while 989 farmers benefited from the Farmer Organization training.

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Philippines

Training in the use of multimedia as extension tool

ACDI/VOCA and project partner staff participated in a Multimedia as Extension Tool training February 5-6, 2013 in Davao City. The training taught staff about mobile messaging, video and photography, story and news writing and school on the air (radio). The information will enable staff to communicate training information and project activities to rural farmers. A total of 25 participants attended and outputs from the trainings were published in the local papers.

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Vietnam

Training courses in water and pest management

In February, farmers participated in training courses in the Lak, Ea Hleo in Dak Lak and Dam Rong districts in Lam Dong. A total of 433 farmer training days were conducted on topics of water management for cocoa groves, pest management for cocoa and cocoa pruning at production period. Due to current pest and disease challenges in Lak and Ea Hleo, trainings on cocoa pest management were repeated upon the request of farmers.

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Indonesia

Conducted feasibility assessment on community fermentation business for women farmer group in Pinrang District

AMARTA II is evaluating business models for community-based fermentation. Preliminary market studies have shown a large variability of fermentation practices and results. The project is working with partner companies to standardize the fermentation practice, and make it cost effective and practical for village farmer groups and women groups to implement. Community fermentation will be piloted in Pinrang during the upcoming main crop season (April-June 2013).

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