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Course Descriptions
Digital Literacy for Agricultural Professionals
"Digital Literacy" is a foundation course that addresses
one of the most commonly voiced training need of agricultural
professionals in the Asia Pacific region - improved Internet skills.
This Web-based course focuses on giving participants the skills
they need to take advantage of networked computer resources with
a focus on applying these skills to online learning.
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Introduction to IPM
This course deals with one of the most fundamental concepts associated
with sustainable agriculture - Integrated Pest Management. The
course gives participants a sound background in what IPM is, how
IPM was developed, and the reasons why we should use it today
and also goes into the fundamental concepts underlying the approach
- agroecology, economics and the agrobiological effects of chemical
pesticides. The range of IPM tools are thoroughly explained and
participants have the opportunity to put these together in the
design of an IPM implementation plan.
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Integrated Pest Management in Cotton
Asia's cotton production is severely threatened by the escalating
cost of pest control measures due, in part, to the development
of pest resistance to chemical control measures. Farmers are responding
by applying ever increasing amounts of chemical pesticides but
this is having serious implications for the environment and human
health and is raising production costs to unprofitable levels.
Widespread adoption of IPM in cotton can greatly mitigate these
problems and this course is designed to give participants the
knowledge and skills they need to effectively promote cotton IPM
in their geographic area.
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Basics of Vegetable IPM
Smallholder vegetable farming is an important engine for economic
development whose productivity can be threatened by a wide range
of devastating pests and diseases. Currently, farmers rely mainly
on pesticides, and although these are valuable tools in crop production,
they must be used without causing major hazards to producers,
consumers and the environment. The course will increase the knowledge
and confidence of agricultural professionals in vegetable pest
management using a case study-based approach. This will give participants
an insight into practices which allow sustainable management of
the vegetable farm environment, and how appropriate cultural,
varietal, biological and chemical pest management technologies
can be integrated on some important vegetable crops.
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Integrated Pest Management in Irrigated Rice
Protecting Asia's rice production, without adversely affecting
the natural resource base upon which this production depends,
has to be a major concern of agricultural professionals in the
region. "Rice IPM" is an online course designed to improve
participants' understanding of the pest problems associated with
rice farming in Asia and provide knowledge and skills that will
help them make appropriate and timely crop protection recommendations
to farmers.
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Responsible Pesticide Use
Farmers have come to depend on chemical pesticides as key weapons
in their efforts to safeguard agricultural production. But it
is critically important that these products are used safely and
that efforts are made to teach farmers about when, how and even
if these products should be applied. This course is designed to
give agricultural professionals a basic reference on accepted
safe use practices, a greater understanding of the principles
and components of safe use programs and provide them with tools
and skills useful for implementing such programs.
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Integrated Soil Fertility Management in the Tropics
Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is the key in raising
productivity levels while maintaining the natural resource base.
ISFM aims to replenish soil nutrient pools, maximize on-farm recycling
of nutrients, reduce nutrient losses to the environment and improve
the efficiency of external inputs
This course presents ISFM strategies that address these objectives.
In addition to a range of soil fertility enhancing methods, such
as improved crop management practices, measures to control erosion
and leaching, and measures to improve soil organic matter maintenance,
ISFM strategies include the combined use of soil amendments, organic
materials, and mineral fertilizers to replenish soil nutrient
pools and improve the efficiency of external inputs. Particular
attention is given to approaches for adapting ISFM options to
the agronomic and socioeconomic needs and interests of farmers.
Systems analysis tools and required data that allow ex-ante impact
analyses of these ISFM options will also be discussed.
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