A course on setting up your own FGI
Alterra, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre offers together with local partners tailor made trainings on restoring soil fertility by using the FGI principles. During the course participants learn to identify, qualify and quantify the 8 steps of FGI.
In this 10 day training course participants learn to broaden their view on soil fertility and food security. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is taken as entry point, but from there-on we take a different route: starting with the people to bring together supply and demand of nutrients. The aim is to create win-win situations by closing nutrient loops for example through the reuse of wastes as a precious product with potential rather than something to be disposed of.
At the end of the training participants are able to:
- Evaluate the soil fertility status for specific farming systems and regions;
- Identify different sources of nutrients in a specific region and determine their use potential;
- Provide crop- and soil specific fertilizer recommendations using the QUEFTS software;
- Design a stakeholder platform for matchmaking between supply and demand of nutrients.
A typical 10 days course looks like:
Day 1 and 2: Integrated soil fertility management. Reviewing past activities on soil fertility management, identification of success factors.
Day 3 and 4: Determining potential nutrient supply and demand using state of the art tools.
Day 5: Actors in nutrient management, their roles and possible contributions.
Day 6: Field visit: design your own FGI case.
Day 7 and 8: Determining the potential FGI case; boundary conditions and affordability.
Day 9: Workshop with local stakeholders
Day 10: Conclusions and graduation
The course was developed actors in nutrient management, e.g. policy makers, scientists and NGO who have experience in rural development and agricultural production systems and are ready to make a difference. The Dutch Science Organization (NWO-NUFFIC) supports the development of the course.