Agro Information Centre

• Short term trainings for International and National NGOs
  
• Other fee-based courses
  

Short term trainings for International and National NGOs

Azerbaijan. AIM is also experienced in conducting trainings for other interested national and/or international NGOs on extension and team building. The participants of different workshops have been the key staff members of the organizations as well as the field personnel.

Various training sessions have been conducted on establishment of extension services for Private Agricultural Extension and Information Centre in Zagatala, since August, 1999.

Experiences with UMCOR-Azerbaijan on extension service application, have yielded good results in training of field extensions agents with continues follow-up sessions during September, 1999-December, 2000.

Several class-room trainings with coaching visits for Children’s Aid Direct, British Humanitarian Organization in Azerbaijan have been held on Communicational Behavior for field staff in Tar-Tar region (August 1-3, 2000); Communication and Team building on September 6-8, 2000; Team Building for key staff in Mingechevir during November 8-10, 2000.

Short-term assignment with World Vision International on strengthening the agricultural potential of community and assist in the improvement of the livelihood of the community members via training of agricultural specialists in the locations was successfully held from April 15, until June 15 2004.

Uzbekistan. With the invitation of German Agro Action (GAA) Urgench office in Uzbekistan AIM conducted a short-term training workshop for the participants identified by GAA during the month of April, 2005. The training schedule on topics of Extension Theory, Basic Farm Economics and Marketing Principles took place in Urgench city from 18th to 28th of April. The training conducted by Head Trainer Mrs. Solmaz Adigozalova and trainer Mr.Yashar Iskandarov aimed to enable the participants to:

• Obtain better communication skills for extension purposes
• Acquaint with advanced extension approach methodologies and planning
• Achieve initial knowledge and skills on marketing and farm business economy

Tajikistan. The offer from Mennonite Economic Development Associates-MEDA, a Canadian international non-governmental organization implementing a four years project in North Tajikistan with the aim to reduce poverty among farm families in the Sugd Oblast, through the development of the fruit and vegetable sub-sector was accepted with high interest by AIM. Wining the tender announced by submitting solid proposal package AIM signed an agreement with MEDA on conductance of a series ‘Training of Trainers’ workshops with auditorium trainings, practical field exercises and supervision of the trainees’ overtime.

During the period of 6th – 16th June, 2005 AIM trainer staff, consisting of Mrs. Solmaz Adigozalova, Head trainer, Mr. Fazil Jafarov, trainer and Ms. Nazakat Bayverdiyeva, facilitator has conducted the first workshop at MEDA Khujend office for the participants invited by MEDA to train them on the aspects relevant to the effective and efficient delivery of high quality and demand driven agricultural advisory services. As a result of these activities, the agro consultants of MEDA were trained to be able to establish reliable consultancy services and make initial relationships with their client farmers.

Increasing the awareness on communication behavior for extension purposes and extension methodology, the agro consultants of MEDA improved their problem-solving skills during the second workshop conducted in November 2005. This workshop conducted by AIM trainers, Mr. Yashar Iskandarov and Mr. Shamsi Shamiyev included the following topics:

• Identification and analyses of the problems in the farm
• Planning of advisory work
• Establishment of demonstration fields
• Elaboration of visual aids

The third round of the “Training of Trainers” component within the project “From Farm to Market” implemented by MEDA in Sugd Oblast was conducted by Mr. Fazil Jafarov, AIM Director/Trainer, Mrs. Solmaz Adigozalova, Head Trainer and Mr. Yashar Isgandarov, Trainer  during  the period of 4 - 10 March, 2006. It included 6 days workshop for selected MEDA agro trainers and aimed to enable the participants to improve their theoretical and practical skills in planning and facilitation of coaching, conductance of auditorium workshops and field coaching.

The previously reported negotiations held between the head of MEDA in Tajikistan and AIM Management on opportunities of assisting the MEDA Project by seconding a trainer with an extended consultancy contract to MEDA-Khujend office completed successfully. AIM trainer Mr. Yashar Iskandarov has been appointed for consultancy mission to MEDA for two months period. In close cooperation with the Agricultural Extension Unit of MEDA Tajikistan Mr. Iskandarov continues to support the development of the extension department activity in MEDA’s four project regions. At the end of the mission he achieved the following:

• Implement detailed assessment of advisory service in project areas
• Share experiences and facilitate MEDA’s Agriculture Department in developing extension service strategy
• Assist agro-consultants to discover approaches to financing extension
• Discuss advisory service system planning applicable in Таjikistan
• Support M&E Department in assessment of extension service
• Create Extension Manual
• Create Trainer’s Handbook
• Design a strategy for creating a self sustainable Agricultural Extension Service

Other fee-based courses

Agro Information Centre delivers fee-based trainings to increase sustainability and meet the needs of separate people in different fields. Besides the physical persons, the intensive courses are designed for the needs of juridical entities. Different trainings have already been delivered to the participants and certificated. The organization announces long-term and short-term fee-based courses on the following:

• Accounting
• Agricultural Business Planning
• Marketing Activities
• Methodology of Extension Service in Agriculture
• Activity Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Specific Trainings on Agriculture

1. Application Form
2. ID  card

The courses are arranged at AIM’s Agjabedi and Barda offices.

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