PICS Training day 2 in Bolgatanga

The second day of training was pretty straightforward. The focus was on review of training manual, and practice with real cowpeas to add enforcements to new learning.

Given the restrictive seating arrangement, participants paired-up (partner A/B) to respond to the following questions:
1. What I learned about PICS project
2. What worked well for me during the workshop
3. What did not work well
4. My questions and suggestions are…

Each partner had 15 minutes to respond. After the dyad session we moved to a whole group discussion. For me, this was the most interesting part because I learned a lot about the audience, their perceptions, experiences and concerns. More important, I was touched by their enthusiasm PICS technology especially around after harvest storage--which is the biggest challenge for farmers in this region. Between Clement, the area coordinator, Dr. Seini, the entomologists, Brother Idrissu, economist and me—we were able to respond to all of the questions and received some excellent suggestions from participants to discuss with program managers.

The collaborative spirit demonstrated at this workshop gave me some indication of the lengths that World Vision had to go—to bring partners like the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, representatives of the chemical industry, the media, market women, and Agricultural Extension Agents (AEA), farmers and community volunteers to attend this inaugural workshop. Interesting undertaking, with a couple of glaring organizational challenges. Even so, I am impressed with the way AEA’s have embraced this project.

The demonstrations were excellent. We formed teams and made the process look like a game. It was a little competitive at times. Everyone witnessed the simplicity of the technology and felt motivated and enabled to share what they have learned with their communities—and to recruit volunteers for the open the bag celebrations in May 2011.

Ok, it is time to head to Tamale for debriefing with our team and then back to Bolgatanga to sit on the crocodiles at Paga and get ready for the workshops on Monday and Tuesday.