Enhancing skills for post-harvest quality seed management

BENEFIT-ISSD Oromia East project unit organized and conducted a one day training of trainers (TOT) on post-harvest quality seed management for woreda experts and DAs at Ras Hotel, Harar city. The training was conducted on 8 December, 2018. A total of 40 woreda focal persons and DAs drawn from east and west Hararghe zones Bureau of Agriculture and Natural resources BoANR in eight woredas (Chiro, Oda Bultum, Doba, Meta, Kurfa Challe, Fadis, Gurawa and Jarso) participated in the training.

The objective of the training was to:

• Improve participants knowledge and skills on post-harvest quality seed management of crops under PVS and CS trials;
• Create awareness on the roles of gender mainstreaming and women participation and empowerment in PVS and CS trials;
• Enhance participants knowledge and skill on data management, documentation and reporting in PVS and CS and trials and;
• Discuss challenges and gaps encountered in PVS and CS implemetation process in 2018 and put way forward

The training was focused on key topical issues including post-harvest quality seed management such as harvesting, drying, threshing/shelling, winnowing/sorting, cleaning and grading, bagging, treatment and storing. It is also covered topics relating to seed processing technologies such as Sheller, cleaner and grader machines. Moreover, both improved and locally available seed storage and storage techniques (PICS, plastic bottle and jar, and highland bottle) were addressed.

The other key topic covered by training was gender mainstreaming strategies in CS and PVS, role of gender and women in variety selection, evaluation and management, role of women in seed management, and women and nutrition. Finally, common problems related to quality data management, and documentation challenges encountered in PVS and CS trials in 2018 such as quality of data, reliability, accuracy, timeliness of recording data and farmers information, and mechanism of filling data sheets appropriately during PVS and CS implementations were discussed among participants and recommendation made for future improvement. The training adopted diverse learning strategies such as PowerPoint, brainstorming, visuals, videos, questions and answer sessions, and individual and group test.

Mr. Endale Abera, Meta woreda BoANR expert and ISSD focal person confirmed that, “the training improved my skills and knowledge on post-harvest quality seed management. It also helped me to aware of low cost and locally available seed storage equipment. I appreciate project for facilitating this kind of practical training”.

All in all, the training created a sense of confidence and commitment among participants. The participants developed joint action plan to transfer and implement the lesson they acquired out of this training to their respective farmers.