This 1-week course is designed for development workers, missionaries, and volunteers looking to engage their communities with low-cost, high-impact agricultural practices and techniques. Participants will be introduced to a wide variety of agricultural practices and technologies through classroom time and hands-on activities on the farm, learning to 'use what you have to make what you need'.

This course is considered an 'introductory survey course', and will present a broad overview of many different options suited to smallholder agricultural contexts in Asia.

Those interested in preparing for short to long-term involvement in international agriculture development are encouraged to participate in this five-day course.  Topics and discussions will focus on improved food security and agricultural livelihoods for small-scale farmers in developing countries.  Participants will be introduced to the complexities related to poverty and community development.  They will also be introduced to principles and practices that contribute toward maintaining healthy and productive soil as well as improved water management and crop production (e.g., annuals and perennials). The vital role of livestock and appropriate technology is also incorporated into the course. During the week, activities will include presentations, farm-based practicums, consultations with ECHO staff, and opportunities for research in the ECHO Resource Library. 

What is offered:

This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to those starting in agricultural development in a tropical environment.  The purpose of this class is to expose you to several different ideas and concepts.  Although a significant amount of time will be spent looking at examples on the ECHO Farm, given the breadth of topics covered, extensive hands-on farm work should not be an expectation of taking this course.

Language: This course is offered in English

NetCAP | August 9

This Conference brings together agriculture workers from the USA and those working internationally in agriculture, or those who have an interest in conservation agriculture and sustainable agriculture. The 2023 Conference of workshops and networking is around the topic “Supply Chain – from Farm to Feed – supporting farmers and food security among the rural poor.”  We always have a variety of topics not necessarily all related to the main theme.  The main goal here is networking and it has been a great opportunity for that. Please come to learn and share your ideas.

Greetings! You are invited to join us for the  1^st ECHO East Africa Symposium on Appropriate Technology Innovations and Renewable Energy. We hope that you will make time to gather with us at this very important sharing opportunity among professionals and practitioners from the public and private sector especially development NGOs. It will be a valuable time of learning, information sharing and networking for those working and serving in the East Africa Region.

Note:

If you or your organization pays for at least 30 participants (US$6000) you will be designatedamong the organizers of the symposia and have your logo displayed on banners, stickers, and other documents, and if you/your organization pays for 1 – 29 participants you will be regarded as a partner who will be encouraged to display your technologies openly for all three days.

We conceive of including the following technologies:

• Biogas for domestic and productive use
• Water hygiene and sanitation, productive use
• Food harvesting, processing and packaging
• Post harvest processing and handling
• Honey and beeswax harvesting and processing
• Milk and milk by products processing
• Solar energy for domestic and productive use
• Wind energy
• Conservation agriculture implements
• Livestock management and processing
• Seeds saving and sharing
• Draught power and implements
• Other livelihood related innovations

Foundations for Farming Training | August 2023

This training is a full introduction to the principles of Foundations for Farming, a resource to equip the poor and break the yoke of poverty. It includes teaching on holistic management and technical principles, live demonstrations, and hands-on learning. For more information check the website. 

Foundations for Farming Vegetable Training | August 2023

This Foundations for Farming training focused on vegetable production for small-scale farming or gardening, teaching principles that can be used in the US or around the world to help small-holder farmers. Prerequisite of Foundations for Farming 3-day training is required. Classroom and hands-on training, including building a compost pile to provide fertilizer. For more information check the website. 

What is offered:

This course is a deeper dive into sustainable agriculture options for smallholder farmers in the tropics. We will be taking a big-picture view as we look at agroecosystems as a whole. We will then dive deeper into systems function and design as we discuss the following four types of tropical agroecosystems:

• Conservation Agriculture
• Sloping Agricultural Land Technology
• Agroforestry
• System of Rice Intensification

Course participants will get hands-on experience managing these systems on the ECHO Global Demonstration and Research Farm. 

Language: This course is offered in English

How can we help small scale farming initiatives thrive in Asia? We can provide low-cost, innovative options that allow people to grow both their crops and their knowledge, expand their operations, and thrive!

Join us October 17-20 for 4-days of networking and opportunities to share ideas, technologies appropriate for small scale farmers, and lots of practical demonstrations at the ECHO Asia Seed Bank & Small Farm Resource Center!

In addition to morning plenary speakers, we will conduct afternoon workshops at the ECHO Small Farm Resource Centrer, an evening poster session, a seed exchange, and a 1-day site visit to an area best practice site!