Uganda pig value chain actors to benefit from training modules on pig health, feeds, breeds and business development

The implementation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded Smallholder Pig Value Chain Development (SPVCD) project was strengthened when national experts recently met in Kampala to prepare eight training modules on promising project interventions.

The writeshop participants worked on modules on pig health, feeding, breeding and economics (business management, enterprise development and finance). The modules will be used to deliver appropriate training interventions to service provider organizations, farmers and other actors of the value chain in Uganda.

Eight national experts contracted to produce the different modules participated as writers in the workshop. The modules cover eight best-bet technologies to be included in an national training package, including:

Module 1: Pig Breeding Management – selection and management of village boars (Robert Natumanya)
Module 2: Pig Feeding – The use of local feed resources in pig feeding (Robert Mwesigwa)
Module 3: Pig Feeding –Strategic supplementation of pigs fed basal diets composed of crop residues (Geoffrey Beyihayo)
Module 4: Pig Health – Biosecurity measures for African swine fever (ASF)control (Noelina Nantima)
Module 5: Pig Health –Control of ecto and endo-parasites (Patricia Nakatudde)
Module 6: Business planning and finance (Rosemirta Birungi)
Module 7: Marketing and institutional strengthening (John Jagwe)
Module 8: Pig management- Husbandry practices (Lawrence Mayega)

Washington Ochola, ILRI consultant facilitated the workshop.

During the workshop, participants were introduced to Instructional System Design (ISD) principles, models and procesess to support the design of learning materials. Pre-developed templates for content development were provided to support the interactive design of the modules ensuring that target group training needs (e.g. rural farmers and their organisations) are met. Participants also learned how to conduct rapid training needs assessment. They also produced building blocks for each module covering:

Topics, annotated structure and expanded content of the best-bet themes;
Delivery methods for each topic organized around sessions to accomplish the content of the modules; and
Specific instructional materials to be used in the delivery of the module including images, charts, case stories, exercises, simulation games and other illustrations.

By the end of the writeshop, each expert had written a draft module complete with background information, description of the target groups, aims and objectives, instructions to facilitators, resource requirements, module content, module delivery methods presented by sessions, module summary and assessment procedures and further reading.

The next step is a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop scheduled for 8-11 April 2014 when a core group of professionals will meet to implement the field level training of farmers and other actors and design practical strategies to roll out the training to other districts and counties.

ILRI’s Uganda team, Danilo Pezo, Emily Ouma, Kristina Roesel, Michel Dione and Rachel Miwanda participated at the event as well as Diana Brandes – van Dorresteijn and Esther Ndung’u from the ILRI office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Article contributed by Washington Ochola ( W.Ochola (at ) cgiar.org )