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Building the indigenous human capacity required to support smallholders investing in horticultural enterprises

  • Establishing linkages and partnerships with higher educational institutions for promoting training and capacity building
  • Organizing in situ training sessions with the skilled and experienced partners in developing countries
  • Organizing e-learning programs with specific partners (CTA, FAO)
  • Organizing workshops and seminars open to policy makers and private sector actors (retailers and distributors in particular), to better implicate these partners in the horticultural sector

INITIATIVES

‘Support to Tertiary Agricultural Education in Africa’ workshop, Wageningen March 26-28, 2012

Published on 5th Apr 2012

GlobalHort was well represented by Remi Kahane and Board memberAfrica map, Didier Pillot. Remi Kahane on behalf of GlobalHort, in collaboration with ANAFE and FARA, gave a presentation, "Opportunities of a Thematic Approach at the Continental and Sub-Regional Level- A Case Study on Horticulture".
 
The workshop participants discussed new mechanisms to support TAE in Africa by assessing lessons learned from past and current support programs, and by matching possible new initiatives with Africa’s own plans for TAE, as expressed in Pillar 4 of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme of NEPAD, and by the World Bank supported TEAM Africa initiative. The latter comprises of a new coordination unit, hosted by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Development in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and the African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE). Specifically the Wageningen Workshop aimed to align the various North American and European donor support mechanisms as well as (bilateral) university partnership programmes and how best to support them.
 
The World Bank and Wageningen University and Research Centre organized the workshop. It follows on earlier discussions on higher education in agriculture at the Kampala Ministerial Conference (November 2010), the first TAE-Partnership workshop launching it in Ås, Norway (September 2011), and at subsequent meetings in Ouagadougou (November 2011) and Washington DC (December 2011). 
 
The workshop brought together some 60 African, North American and European stakeholders in agricultural education, including Development Partners.
 
The article "Tertiary agricultural education in Africa - A case study" will be published in Chronica Horticulturae 52(2), 2012.
 
>>More Information

African Union Research Grants: 2012 Open Call for Proposals

Published on 30th Jan 2012

African Union Research Grants: 2012 Open Call for Proposals
Ref: HRST/ST/AURG/CALL2/2012/EuropeAid/132-331/M/ACT/ACP
 
The African Union Commission is seeking proposals for research focusing on the following thematic priorities articulated in Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) and its Lighthouse Projects: (a) Post-harvest and Agriculture, (b) Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and (c) Water and Sanitation in Africa. The programme is financed through the Financing Agreement between the European Commission and the ACP Group of States under the ACP Research for Sustainable Development Program of the 10th EDF Intra-ACP Envelop.
The full Guidelines for Applicants, Application form and other supporting documents are available for downloading from the following Internet Sites:
1.        http://www.africahrst.org/stict/rgp
2.       http://www.au.int/researchgrant
3.        http://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?do=publi.welcome
 
The deadline for submission of proposals is April 20, 2012 at 1700 hours (+3 GMT) Addis Ababa time.
Email: research-info@africa-union.org
 
 
 
Subventions de Recherche de l’Union Africaine: 2012 – Avis à manifestation d’intérêt
Référence: [HRST/ST/AURG/CALL2/2012/EuropeAid/132-331/M/ACT/ACP
L’Union Africaine est en quête de projets de recherche sur les priorities thématique suivantes indiquées dans le Plan d’action consolidé de l’Afrique pour la  Science  et la Technologie (CPA) et dans ses projets phares  (a) la Post-récolte et Agriculture, (b) l’Energie renouvelable et durable, et (c) l’Eau et Assainissement  en Afrique.
 
Le programme est financé grâce à l’Accord financier entre la Commission de l’Union européenne et le Groupe des Etats d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (ACP) et de l’Enveloppe budgétaire intra-ACP du 10eme FED consacrée au Programme de recherche du Groupe ACP pour le développement durable.
 
Toutes les directives concernant l’avis à manifestation d’intérêt, le formulaire de demande et d’autres documents pertinents peuvent être telechargés sur les sites Internet suivants:
 
1.      http://www.africahrst.org/stict/rgp
2.      http://www.au.int/researchgrant
3.      http://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?do=publi.welcome
.
 La date limite de soumission des projets de recherche est fixé au 20 Avril 2012 à 17 :00 (GMT +3), heure d’Addis Abeba.
Courrier électronique : research-info@africa-union.org

ECOHORT: Designing ecologically innovative horticultural systems

Published on 15th Nov 2011

ECOHORT was officially launched at the Agropolis Auditorium, Montpellier, France November 8-9, 2011.  At the launching workshop Remi Kahane and Didier Pillot (President of AgriNatura and a member of the GlobalHort Board) gave a presentation on international projects.

The ECOHORT project reflects the thinking that sustainable horticulture needs to be promoted and, more generally, plant agrobiodiversity managed in ways that will  provide food in sufficient quantity and of sufficient quality for the steadily increasing populations in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Numerous European initiatives for ACP countries have been created, such as the PIP-COLEACP (Pesticides Initiative Programme of the Europe-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific Liaison Committee). These initiatives must encourage stakeholders to adopt better practices in terms of food safety, human health and protection of the environment.

The ultimate goal of ECOHORT is to devise ecological horticultural systems, based on biological, socio-economic and methodological knowledge. It will provide the opportunity for exchanges between nations in the northern and southern hemispheres. The systems to be studied will be representative of the current situation and will include major production sectors, such as market gardening and fruit crops, which are particularly subject to pest and disease problems.

This project is being led by colleagues at  INRA (Michel Génard and Françoise Lescourret), CIRAD (Eric Malézieux), Agrocampus Ouest (Emmanuel Geoffriau) and Montpellier SupAgro (Jean Luc Regnard). The project is being financed by Agreenium, with up to €100,000 being provided over two years (2011-2012).

OPPORTUNITIES

 

HortCRSP Trellis Fund offers $2,000 Horticultural Grant Opportunity

Published on 10th Apr 2012

The goal of the Trellis Fund is to link graduate students in the U.S. to agricultural NGOs/universities/government and research agencies in developing countries, and enable these organizations to disseminate novel ideas to 2,700 farmers worldwide.
 
The Trellis Fund will offer $2,000 contracts to the Developing World Organization (DWO) to extend horticultural research to local farmers and horticultural stakeholders.
 
The DWO will complete and submit the proposal found at http://hortcrsp.ucdavis.edu/main/trellis.html, and Horticulture CRSP will match selected proposals with a graduate student who has relevant expertise. Trellis Fund proposals can address horticultural production, pest management, postharvest, marketing issues or related social processes.
 
The Trellis Fund will also pay fellowships to U.S. graduate students to cover their travel expenses to visit with the DWO and for corresponding with the DWO via email. The graduate student will be required to travel to the DWO for 1‐2 weeks, to meet his/her project partners and the clientele farmers. Whenever possible, Trellis Fund projects should also include a graduate student from a local university.
 
The Trellis Fund expects the DWO to reach at least 180 farmers, an average of 30 farmers per month over a six-month period. We also expect the DWO to utilize 100 hours of the graduate student’s labor over the duration of the project, for example, through consultations, the creation of educational/technical materials or other creative means.
 
Proposals must be submitted to hortcrsp@ucdavis.edu by June 6th 2012.
 
We will fund proposals that take place in the following countries:
 
Africa
Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Senegal, Ghana, Mali and Liberia
 
Central America/Caribbean
Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti
 
Asia
Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Nepal, Cambodia
 
For clarifications and questions, e-mail Elana Peach-Fine at elanahortcrsp@gmail.com
 
For examples of last year’s successful projects, visit http://hortcrsp.ucdavis.edu/main/trellis.html
 
For more information about Horticulture CRSP, visit our website at http://www.hortcrsp.ucdavis.edu/

AVRDC Vegetables from seed to table international training course starts Sept. 10, 2012

Published on 16th Feb 2012

31st International Training Course: Vegetables from Seed to Table Sept. 10- Nov. 30, 2012

Course objectives

31st International Vegetable Training Course (IVTC) of AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center aims to enhance technical, scientific and managerial skills of the participants to be able to contribute to the sustainable development of their countries through the increased production and consumption of health-promoting vegetables. The training emphasizes on advanced and sustainable vegetable production and postharvest technologies, farmer education, human health and nutrition, and marketing. In addition, this training will enhance awareness and understanding of emerging global development issues and technologies. The 31st IVTC is organized in close collaboration with the HortCRSP Center of Innovation at Kasetsart University and endorsed by the International Society for Horticultural Science
(ISHS), particularly its Commission on Education, Research Training and Consultancy.

Who should attend
Researchers and extensionists from national and international agricultural research institutes, universities, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers to improve their knowledge and management skills through three separate but interrelated one-month long modules.

>>More information

Invitation to apply for training in postharvest technology

Published on 28th Oct 2011

A new e-learning program on postharvest technology has just been announced as part of a new project to be implemented in India during 2012-2013, funded by Amity University (Noida, India) and The Postharvest Education Foundation (USA).   


The postharvest training program will be offered for 20 to 30 young professionals currently working in South Asia in programs, projects or agencies where they are involved in horticultural field research or extension work.  Graduate students, extension workers, government employees and NGO staff are all invited to apply.  There is no charge for this program, and the training will take place over a period of 16 months during 2012-13.  The ideal candidate is a young person from India or South Asia with a strong horticultural background, good English skills, access to the internet, and who is able to show evidence of recent horticulture field research, extension or outreach experience and has the approval of their supervisor to participate.
 
Training activities will include a variety of reading and fieldwork assignments on improved postharvest practices undertaken in the trainees' home state or country, as well as a trip to Noida, India in early 2013 to work with us on implementing postharvest training programs for small-scale horticultural farmers, traders and marketers.  No financial compensation will be provided for the trainee's time away from their work, but the project will provide all the training materials and cover travel expenses for a 4 day trip to India for those trainees who successfully complete all their assignments.  Trainees will also receive a Postharvest Tool Kit and a Postharvest Training Certificate upon successful completion of their training.
 

The deadline for receiving initial applications is November 15, 2011.

Dr. Lisa Kitinoja
The Postharvest Education Foundation
PO Box 38, La Pine, Oregon 97739 USA

Contact information:
Kitinoja@hotmail.com or Kitinoja@postharvest.org
Mobile phone: (916) 708-7218

Website homepage: www.postharvest.org
Blog: http://postharvest.tumblr.com/
Twitter: @PostharvestOrg

The Food Security Center, University of Hohenheim, to award scholarships in 2012

Published on 6th Sep 2011

In 2012, the Food Security Center (FSC) at the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany awards up to 17 scholarships for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students for a period of 4 to 6 months. The application deadline is September 30, 2011. Selection is carried out on a competitive basis and the decisions will be communicated up to December 19, 2011. Regarding the details of the different scholarship programs, the application process and the requirements, please consult FSC’s webpage (https://fsc.uni-hohenheim.de/77676.html).Only completed applications using FSC’s application form will be considered.In case of questions (after reading the general and the detailed announcement!) please contact Mrs Elke Breitmayer; e-mail: fsc-scholarships@uni-hohenheim.de.Please send complete (!) applications only (!) to fsc-scholarships@uni-hohenheim.de.Dr. Detlef Virchow
Executive Manager
Food Security Center (FSC)
University of Hohenheim
70593 Stuttgart, Germany
Phone: +49 (711) 459 24 451
Email: detlef.virchow@uni-hohenheim.de

Website: https://fsc.uni-hohenheim.de/77676.html

 

In addition to the short-term scholarships, the Food Security Center (FSC) at the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany awards up to 10 scholarships for PhD students  from developing countries (see OECD DAC list) for a period of 36 months, beginning September 01, 2012 (with a month German language course).

The application deadline is October 26, 2011. Selection is carried out on a competitive basis and the decisions will be communicated no later than January 25, 2012. Regarding the details of the scholarship program, the application process and the requirements, please consult FSC’s webpage (https://fsc.uni-hohenheim.de/77676.html”).

The Center wishes to attract outstanding PhD students pursuing a career in academia or development collaboration. The scholarship aims at increasing their previously gained scientific knowledge and skills relevant to food security related issues. The successful candidates will receive scholarships for participating in the PhD program “Global Food Security” to conduct their doctorates.The scholarship is given for a stay at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. The monthly grant is EUR 1,000 (for the time in Germany, EUR 500 for the time of the field research). In addition, FSC pays for traveling to/from Hohenheim. Health insurance and other costs must be paid for from the stipend.For important questions, please write an email to fsc-scholarships@uni-hohenheim.de - and please only to this mail address! Only completed applications using FSC’s application form will be considered.
Dr. Detlef Virchow
Executive Manager
Food Security Center (FSC)
University of Hohenheim
70593 Stuttgart, Germany
Email: fsc-scholarships@uni-hohenheim.de

Website: https://fsc.uni-hohenheim.de/77676.html 

Applications now open for Australian Development Scholarships

Published on 23rd Mar 2011

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) are long term development awards administered by AusAID.

ADS are a highly valued form of development cooperation and aim to contribute to the long term development needs of Australia's partner countries to promote growth and stability. They provide opportunities for people from developing countries to undertake full time undergraduate or postgraduate study in Australia.

ADS equip scholars with the skills and knowledge to drive change and influence the development outcomes of their own country through obtaining tertiary qualifications at participating Australian higher education institutions and technical colleges.

ADS are available for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study, from Certificate level to PhD at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.  

Fields of study are targeted to address agreed priority human resource and development needs of recipient countries, in line with Australia's bilateral aid program, and regional objectives.

The number of scholarships and fields of study are determined annually by each ADS participating country and in accordance with the Australian Government's bilateral development assistance program. Some countries may limit the level of study (technical, undergraduate or postgraduate) and give priority to certain fields of study to better meet development needs and Australia's specific aid objectives for each country.

Award recipients are required to return to their country of citizenship for two years after they have completed their studies to contribute to the development of their country.

How to apply for an Australian Development Scholarship

Le CIRAD recherche un doctorant pour le projet Végé-culture

Published on 17th Feb 2011

Le CIRAD recherche un doctorant pour conduire des travaux de thèse sur le sujet: Les mécanismes de création et de sélection de la diversité dans les systèmes de culture complexes à base de plantes à multiplication végétative en zone tropicale humide.
Pour plus d’informations : http://www.sibaghe.univ-montp2.fr/

Les candidatures sont maintenant ouvertes pour le master international HORTIMET sur l'horticulture méditerranéenne et tropicale

Published on 21st Jan 2011

Les candidatures sont maintenant ouvertes pour le master international HORTIMET sur l'horticulture méditerranéenne et tropicale, délivré par Montpelier SupAgro et AGROCAMPUS OUEST Angers (France). Les dossiers sont disponibles sur www.supagro.fr/web/pages/?idl=19&page=433&id_page=1116. Pour plus d'information contacter  : Prof J.L. Regnard (regnard@supagro.inra.fr) ou Prof E. Geoffriau (Emmanuel.Geoffriau@agrocampus-ouest.fr).

Applications are now open for the international Master HORTIMET on mediterrannean and tropical horticulture

Published on 19th Jan 2011

The applications are now open for the international Master HORTIMET on mediterrannean and tropical horticulture, delivered by Montpelier SupAgro and AGROCAMPUS OUEST Angers (France). Applications are available on www.supagro.fr/web/pages/?idl=19&page=433&id_page=1116. Contacts for more information : Prof J.L. Regnard (regnard@supagro.inra.fr) or Prof E. Geoffriau (Emmanuel.Geoffriau@agrocampus-ouest.fr)."

Trainees sought for Postharvest Technology Training in Sub-Saharan Africa

Published on 26th Nov 2010

Nominations are being sought for trainees as part of a new USAID project to be implemented in Rwanda during 2010-2013.  The Horticulture CRSP Pilot Project, “Extension of Appropriate Postharvest Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Postharvest Training and Services Center" is being led by Diane Barrett at UC Davis, and she is joined by Dan MacLean at the University of Georgia and Lisa Kitinoja at the World Food Logistics Organization as co-PIs on the USA side. Hilda Vasanthakaalam at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology in Rwanda is our host country Co-PI. 

The postharvest training program being launched will be offered for 30 young professionals currently working in Ghana, Benin, Gabon, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya in programs, projects or agencies where they are involved in horticultural research or extension work.  Graduate students, extension workers, government employees and NGO staff are all invited to apply, and there is no charge for this pilot program.  The training will take place over a period of 10 to 12 months during 2011-12. Young horticulturalists from other SSA countries will be considered if we do not receive enough strong applications from these six focus countries. Training activities will include a variety of reading and fieldwork assignments on improved postharvest practices undertaken in their home country, as well as a trip to Rwanda to work with us on implementing training programs for small-scale women horticultural farmers/marketers. 

No financial compensation will be provided for the trainee's time away from work, but the project will provide all the training materials and cover travel expenses for a one week long trip to Rwanda for those trainees who successfully complete all their assignments.  Trainees will also receive a Postharvest Tool Kit and a Postharvest Training Certificate upon successful completion of their training. Forward this application to anyone you believe may be interested

in this training opportunity.  Please provide your name as the nominator in the space provided at the top of the application form. The ideal candidate is a young person from Sub-Saharan Africa with a strong horticultural background, good English skills, access to the internet, and who is able to show evidence of recent horticulture research and/or extension experience.   The deadline for receiving initial applications is December 16, 2010. 

Please send completed application forms, with applicant's family name added to the file name, in MSWord format to Dr. Kitinoja at kitinoja@postharvest.org

The African Seed Health Centre, Sokoine University, Morogoro, Tanzania

The African Seed Health Centre, Sokoine University, Morogoro, Tanzania

They provide a comprehensive seed health training programme consisting of short term individual/group courses and long-term education through research projects leading to post-graduate qualifications (Diploma, M.Sc, PhD level and others.  Click here for further details.

Reports

ICTs and Higher Education in Africa

This report reviews existing national and international policies with regard to the use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning within institutions of tertiary education.  Common areas of strength and weakness with reference to educational technology readiness in the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (PHEA) countries are explored. These countries are Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.  The authors outline the challenges to the deployment of ICT in tertiary education within the PHEA areas. Finally, lessons learned and possibilities for collaboration are highlighted.       

Full text available as: Pdf

Building Pathways out of Rural Poverty Through Investments in Agricultural Information Systems. Final Report by Dwight W. Allen and Mary Anderson Ochs. Feb. 2008

Last year Cornell University and partners put together a 'WorldAginfo' Design Team to test the premise that: "new collaborative information technologies offer an exciting opportunity to transform agricultural education and information systems in Asia and Africa." The Team was charged by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to explore the landscape of agricultural education and information systems in Asia and Africa, and to come up with "a set of recommendations for areas of investment that have the potential to improve the lives of smallholders through better access to agricultural education, training and information."

Full text available as: Pdf

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