Training is one of AFNETA's most important activities. In order to participate fully in AFNETA's collaborative research program, scientists and technicians of national agricultural research institutions require training on the concepts and principles of alley farming as well as on the research methodologies for studying different aspects of the system.
AFNETA employs a train-the-trainer strategy in its training program. Regional training courses are organized at four centers in Africa, in collaboration with national institutions. A core group of trainers from each center has undergone trainer-training to enable them to plan, implement, and evaluate the regional courses. Two regional course, one anglophone, and one francophone, are held each year. In addition, a central training workshop, focusing on a strategically important aspect of alley farming, is held each year at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. It is principally for these training courses that the AFNETA Alley Farming Training Manual has been developed.
This training manual is a collaborative project of the three-International Agricultural Centres affiliated to the network: the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF). The manual draws on articles, training materials, and illustrations prepared by scientists and support staff from the three institutions.
The manual has been written with two readerships in mind. First, it is intended for use in AFNETA's training courses, at which African scientists learn how to carry out alley farming research within the framework of AFNETA's collaborative research programs. Most of these scientists have backgrounds in agriculture, forestry, or animal husbandry, and are employed within national research systems.
Secondly, it is intended for any person interested in practicing or experimenting with alley farming. Interest in alley farming is increasing, not only in national research systems, but in non-governmental organizations, development agencies, and among private farmers. Extension agents in many parts of Africa are beginning to be asked to promote the technology. The manual addresses the growing need for readily accessible, technical information on alley farming.
The manual is published in two volumes. Volume 1, the Core Course in Alley Farming, has been designed as a basic, six-unit curriculum for short training courses. The Core Course introduces the theory and practice of alley farming, and acquaints the trainee with the major research topics. Volume 2, the Source Book for Alley Farming Research is a collection of technical papers for reference and for further study. Each unit and technical paper includes a set of "feedback exercises" as an aide to self-teaching. Those scientists who will go on to conduct field experiments will want to make use of AFNETA's documentation on research guidelines and data collection requirements (available from the Coordination Unit).
In its present form, the manual is presented as a test draft, for use and review in a number of training programs. Any suggestions for improvements from readers are welcome.
Kwesi Atta-Krah
Coordinator, AFNETA
Ibadan, 1992
