PREVIOUS CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS
A daylong Regional Symposium on “Appropriate Scale Mechanization for Sustainable Intensification” was organized by Appropriate Scale Mechanization Innovation Hub (ASMIH) Bangladesh on November 20, 2017 at Lakeshore Hotel, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The symposium was attended by 28 different institutions with missions/interest in agricultural development and mechanization. The occasion was graced by Professor Dr. M. A. Sattar Mandal, Emeritus Professor and Ex. Vice Chancellor, BAU as the Chief guest; Professor Dr. Md. Ali Akbar, Vice-chancellor, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh as the Chief Patron; Professor Dr. Gajendra Singh, Chairman, Technical Advisory Board, ASMC – USA; Professor Dr. Prasanta K Kalita, Associate Dean, ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA; Dr. F. H. Ansarey, Managing Director, ACI Motors Ltd as guest of honor. The session was chaired by Professor Dr. Alan C Hansen, Director, ASMC, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA. There were many distinguish guests from USA, Cambodia, India, foreign missions, donor agencies, academicians researchers and farmers. After the ceremonial opening session, the symposium started the technical session focusing on
mechanization for Southeast Asia, and presenting
research findings from Appropriate Scale
Mechanization Consortium work in Cambodia
and Bangladesh. Dr. Dyna Theng, from ASMIH-
Cambodia joined the symposium and provided
valuable information from the mechanization work
in Cambodia. The technical sessions ended with an
hour of moderated discussion, in which the
Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium team
took questions from the audience and discussed
next steps for mechanization in the region.
Bangladeshi Farmer asks question during the Regional Symposium.
A training on animal nutrition in Bobo-Dioulasso, Hauts-Bassins Region of Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, training sessions for farmers on how to handle draft animals and how to use the chopper to improve animal nutrition was organized by Dr. Vinsoun Millogo and Michel Kéré in four different locations in the Hauts-Bassins Region. In total, 428 farmers were trained with 58 females and 370 males. The chopper was part of the training. The ASMC team also planned to show other tools, such as planters and rippers. The training was very successful and spread awareness of the project across the region. As a result, the demand of planters and choppers for the next growing season increased.
In Bangladesh, During Rabi season of 2019-20, three hands-on trainings on CA machines for local beneficiaries were conducted at WazirpurUpazila of Barishal district, KolaparaUpazila of Patuakhali district and SubarnacharUpazila of Noakhali district. Where total participant was 30 (M-24, F-6). In all training programs, training modules, leaflets were distributed among the participants as dissemination materials. All participants in the training programs at both areas appreciated hands-on training on CA machines. Partners in Bangladesh have also developed two business modules and two training modules on the reaper and mini-combine harvester have been printed. Short video documents on each technology (transplanting, harvesting and CA technologies) are being disseminated among different level stakeholders.