Improving Agricultural Productivity and Net Returns among Smallholder Farmers through Efficient Use of Nutrients and Water

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in collaboration with the Israeli Agricultural  Research Organization (ARO) Volcani Center, is pleased to announce that an international training entitled Improving Agricultural Productivity and Net Returns among Smallholder Farmers through Efficient Use of Nutrients and Water will convene in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 6-10, 2012.

Target Audience:The program is designed for:

• Agronomists, soil scientists, irrigation experts, fertilizer manufacturers, researchers and extensionists from national and international agricultural research institutes and universities, as well as policy-makers from governments and ministries in charge of agricultural productivity and planning.
• Executives and managers of fertilizer and agricultural input organizations, as well as innovative farmers will find this program extremely useful.
• Representatives of international organizations and donors involved in developing strategies for increased agricultural production through the use of emerging technologies that promote resource conservation and increased efficiencies will also benefit from this program.
• National commissions of agriculture, as well as international associations of horticultural producers will find the program useful. Participants should understand English.

Program Content: The topics to be addressed by a faculty of experts will cover the general concepts associated with:

• Site-specific management of nutrients and water in the context of smallholder farmers, including the impact of NWUE on:
• Alternatives to enhance NWUE
• Tools for the assessment of NWUE and recommendations of fertilizers

Methodology: The five-day training session will include lectures, research reports, a field visit and demonstrations of tools and methodologies. These will demonstrate the available technology, as well as the developing technology, that can help smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods and conserve natural resources.The program faculty will include subject matter experts from IFDC and partner organizations.

Programme Costs: $1,600 for registration made by April 6, 2012, and $1,800 for registration after April 6, 2012. The program fee covers registration, training and reference material, coffee/tea breaks, all lunches and surface transportation on field trips. The fee does not include air travel, lodging and dinner expenses, or medical and communication expenses. As a nonprofit organization, IFDC does not finance or sponsor any participant.

Information & Registration: For further information, please visit the training course site and read the detailed program description. If you are interested in attending, you are cordially invited to register on-line or by filling out the attached registration form and returning via e-mail to training@ifdc.org. Registration is open until the 6th of April 2012.Please feel free to widely share the program information.