Strengthening agricultural extension services

The cornerstone of tomorrow’s agricultural extension services lies in the hands of master trainers. Their primary role is to impart invaluable knowledge of agroecology to farmers. Thus, it’s imperative that they equip themselves with the necessary skills to effectively fulfill their mission.

The Forum of Agricultural Counsel (FCA) in Madagascar has scheduled a training workshop for master trainers from April 29 to May 3 in Ambatobe Antananarivo. The primary objective is to bolster the agricultural extension services and advance the sustainability of food systems across Madagascar.

This initiative primarily targets technicians operating in the Melaky and Menabe regions, which are the focal areas of intervention for the project in Madagascar. The overarching goal is to integrate master trainers into the GP-SAEP (Green Project for Sustainable Agricultural Extension and Promotion), enhance teaching materials, introduce concepts of agroecology, and strategize monitoring and evaluation activities.

Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the European Union, the GP-SAEP operates within a three-year timeframe spanning from 2023 to 2026. It aims to tackle pivotal challenges concerning agroecology and food sustainability on a global scale. The program concentrates on four essential pillars: enhancing access to agroecological solutions, fortifying agricultural markets, facilitating knowledge accessibility for small-scale producers, and conducting in-depth economic analyses of investments.