Strengthening of the Horticulture Information Support Network for Small farmers in Egypt

(HORTISUN)

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Emam Ragab National Horticulture Specialist Vice Dean of Fac. Of Agric., Ain Shams University

Project Objectives

The overall objectives of HORTISUN project is to develop and enhance the capacity of MALR to have an efficient horticulture sector information support network system and making use of available communication mechanisms and tools, e.g. awareness workshops, T.V. satellite and mobile service, that will support small farmers and market services

The main tasks of the consultant

Within one hour discussion with the participants attending the workshop representing different organizations and stakeholders in the value chain- the following recommendations were raised:

1. Participated in the project inception and midterm workshop and provided inputs as required.

1. The project duration should be extended for better dissemination of the project activities and objectives.

2. A wide range of coordination between the project main stakeholders is essential for better performance of the project activities.

3. Disseminating the HORTISUN project activities on a national level so it can cover all governorates.

Midterm Workshop Main Discussions and Recommendations :

first workshop was held to discuss the draft strategy

with stakeholders working groups. second workshop was to present the revised strategy to

the stakeholders and to get their inputs and contribution.

The third workshop is scheduled to take place by the end of April to present and launch.

the final version of the stakeholders analysis and national information dissemination and communication strategy .

2. Assisted in the planning of training needs to strengthen the required national capacities

3. Participated and assisted as required in the training workshops provided to stakeholders.

The farmers impact and the participants agreed about the following: All technical information contents. All extension systems of the Hortisun project

(Awareness workshops, video episodes, hortisun web site, mobile SMS).

4. Participated in the monthly performance appraisals with field staff to explore the constraints and update their information and provide inputs as required.

Farmers constraints: Lack of extension field. Lack of farmers schools. Lack of marketing facilities. Some governmental constraints such as

shortage of fertilizers, shortage of some certified pesticides, shortage seeds and seedlings.

Thematic Workshops : Nine thematic workshops for small farmers were organized both in Menia and Fayoum with the attendance of, researchers, dealers

5. Assisted in the thematic workshops with a subject matters specialist and provided inputs as required.

A list of the conducted thematic workshops towards the end of March 2014 :

No. Title

No. Of

Farmer

s

Work done

No. of days /

Gov. Elminia

Elfayoum

1 Good Agricultural Practices

(GAPs)

60 30 30 From 1st-2nd

Februray in

Fayoum

From the 5th-6th

of February in

Menia

2days/Gov.

2 Horticultural crops production

60 30 30 From 12th-13th

Februray in

Fayoum

From the 15th-

16th of February

in Menia

2days/Gov.

3

Post harvest practices and How

to reduces losses through value

chain

60 30 30 From 10th-13th

March in Fayoum

From the 14th-

16th of February

in Menia

3days/Gov.

4 Plant disease , Integrated pest

and weed Management

52 27 25 From 10th-13th

March in Fayoum

From the 14th-

16th of February

in Menia

5 Green houses

58 29 29 29th of May

&11th of June in

Fayoum

From the 2nd to

the 3rd of June in

Menia

6 Expert systems

61 31 30 11th & 17th of

September in

Fayoum

From the 13th -

14th of September

in Menia

7 Mobile

61 31 30 11th & 17th of

September in

Fayoum

From the 13th -

14th of

September in

Menia

2days/Gov.

8 Value chain development

90 58 32 From 28th-30th

October in

Fayoum

From the 2nd -

5th of

November in

Menia

3 days/Gov.

9 Marketing

33 15 18 11th of June in

Fayoum

2nd of June in

Menia

1 day/Gov.

6. Participated in the project workshops and provided inputs as required.

7. Assisted in training that was conducted for 100 knowledge workers and subject matter specialists in operating and using the HORTISUN and Arabic HORTIVAR network systems

The report presented the five Hortivar training workshops that took place in the Central Lab for Agricultural Expert System. Fifty five academic researchers and agricultural specialist attended these workshops. The objective of this training is to teach participants how they can use the horticultural cultivars performance database (Hortivar).

Hortivar training report

Introduction to HortiVar HortiVar objectives and components Demonstration about HortiVar modules: Login Standard cultivar description SCDs Cultivar photos Good morning HortiVar HortiVar reports and statistics HortiVar live support

1. Training outline

the participants by the end of the training were able to understand what is HortiVar aims and module, search HortiVar database, know how to enter new horticultural cultivars performance in HortiVar database, and update existing data.

2. Training outcomes

The need for HortiVar web site The benefits of use HortiVar in agriculture Standard cultivar description SCDs Seed sources Photos of cultivars Nutrient composition data Climate data per location

3. Main discussions: The HortiVar sessions discussed the following:

HortiVar reports and statistics:

Hortivar statistics Seed and plant material sources reports Species names reports Country fact sheets reports Nutrient composition reports

Conclusion

The participants were able to use HortiVar website as a standard methodology for data collection and record keeping on the performances of horticulture cultivars.