1.  Biotechnology applications: Marker-assisted selection of crops for desirable traits. Duration: 2 weeks

Molecular marker maps have been constructed for a wide range of crop species. Information on major plant projects (such as the sequencing of the entire rice genome) can be found at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/PLANTS/PlantList. html. We only need to apply this wealth of information to solve our own particular problem.
The DfID-sponsored DelPHE-5 project ran a one-week course on MOLECULAR SCREENING OF TOMATOES FOR RESISTANCE TO WILT PATHOGENS from July 18-22, 2011. It was a specific example of application of MAS and was aimed at detecting I2 Fusarium wilt-resistant gene in 50 accessions of tomato. The desirable traits of interest can vary from one course to the other. The principle is the same; the only difference will be in the choice of molecular marker and primer types.

Response from participants indicated a desire for such courses in the future with emphasis on other traits, especially drought tolerance. Participants however felt the one week was not enough, as they could not fully observe the results of practical sessions of the workshop.

SYNOPSIS
1.  Desirable traits in crop improvement
2.  Molecular markers and crop improvement
3.  Basics of DNA and DNA-based Technologies
4.  PCR and PCR-based Technologies
5.  Gel Electrophoresis, Documentation and Interpretation
6.  Understanding scientific articles on molecular biology.

PRACTICAL ASPECTS
1.  Plant Genomic DNA Extraction
a.  Extraction from leaves
b.  Extraction from seeds
c.  Protocols for automated and manual extractions

2.  DNA Quantification and Quality Assessment
a.  Using UV Spectrophotometer
b.  Using Nanodrop Spec.

3.  PCR Amplification using primer specific for trait of interest.
4.  Gel Electrophoresis and amplicon confirmation
5.  Restriction Enzyme Digestion (where appropriate, depending on molecular marker technique).
6.  Restriction fragment analysis and documentation.

2.  Technological strategies for climate change adaptation and food security. Duration: 1 Week

Climate effects on food security; Climate models; Crops response to climate; Effects of global warming on crop yields; Breeding strategies to adapt to warmer climate; Agronomic studies of climate impacts; Agricultural mitigation

3.  Project Appraisal, planning and management. Duration: 1 Week

Managerial functions, roles and project management; planning agricultural development projects, financial and economic appraisals, managerial leadership styles, communications, delegation, time management; management of change and conflicts; coordination in management, power and influence, circles of influence; gender, environment and social dimensions of projects.

4.  ICT in Food Security for a Sustainable Environment. Duration: 1 Week

Aims & Content:
ICT plays a key role in driving economic growth by creating new income-generating opportunities, making the delivery of public services more effective, transparent and efficient, connecting them to the world economy and overall contributing to the social and economic transformation of entire country. This kind of transformation is even more necessary for rural and isolated areas, where widespread access to ICTs and effective use of these technologies for productive purposes, can make a tremendous difference in development outcomes. The development and application of e-governance, e-agriculture, e-health and knowledge management centres will be more popular and attractive in rural areas for food security.

Today there is no adequately trained manpower for manning the IT centres in rural areas with the aim of improving the issue of food security, where skills for application of specialized software are necessary. Hence the proposed Certificate Course will aim to fill this gap.

Syllabus of The Course
1.  Concept, Principles, and Scope of ICT in Food security and a sustainable environment
2.  Basic Computing Literacy & Skills Hardware, Software, Operating Systems (Windows, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, PowerPoint Presentation)
3.  Basic Concepts & Applications of Intranet (LAN, WAN, Topology)
4.  Basic Concepts & Applications of Internet (www, Web Browsers, Surfing, Search Engines, Downloading, E-mail, Skype, etc)
5.  Web 2.0 technology
6.  Developing multi-media content and communication systems (DVD, CD, tele/video conferencing)
7.  ICT Applications in e-agriculture, e-awareness generation, e-banking, e-commerce, e-development, e-education, e-empowerment, e-entertainment, e-governance, e-health (human & veterinary), e-insurance, e-marketing,
8.  Applications of Local Area Portal (LAP) Software, Digital imaging and GIS mapping

5.  Climate Change and Natural Resources Management. Duration: One week
The purpose of this short course is to equip both specialist and non-specialists with a broad understanding of what climate change may mean for low-income populations. It will examine the scope and prospects for adapting to change and contributing to emissions reduction in the context of developmental issues and property reduction. It is designed to equip participants with a deeper awareness of the ideas, opportunities and trade-offs represented by adaptation and mitigation; an awareness that is increasingly needed if effective action on climate change is to be achieved. The course will offer specific practices to manage climate change and how to minimize the effect of climate change on natural resources.

Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change and Vulnerability
Cities are considered the most vulnerable areas to sea level rise, storm surges, floods and droughts. Mapping the most at risk areas of a city with relevant climate impact-agents is a fundamental step in understanding how to reduce a city’s vulnerability. Participants will get acquainted with a range of vulnerability assessment tools and will acquire knowledge and skills on how to perform a vulnerability assessment and vulnerability mapping at a city based on a case study. In addition, participants will get an introduction to decision support tools for climate change.  

Module 2: Land-based climate change mitigation activities:
Land-based climate change mitigation activities and their contribution to low carbon development, including: REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation): institutional and governance structures, legal and policy frameworks needed for its successful integration of REDD+ into low carbon development at the international, national and regional levels, climate-smart agriculture: technical solutions for low emissions agriculture and their socio-economic feasibility in the context of rural livelihoods biofuels: including production models that maximise rural development, and policy frameworks to improve the sustainability of production.

Module 3: Effective use of natural resources for development purposes
Effective use of natural resources for development purposes in the context of climate change and increasing scarcity and competition for resources, including: land tenure systems, large-scale land acquisition and land-use planning as key issues to ensure secure and equitable access to natural resources and that land meets multiple objectives, water management that responds to the realities of climate change, and recognises complex linkages with other natural resources and social systems energy access and delivery of energy for development that integrates long-term sustainability and climate change.

Module 4: Climate Change Mitigation
Land-use change and management, Cropland management (water), Cropland management (reduced tillage), Afforestation or reforestation, Agro-forestry systems (plantation of trees in cropland), Avoided/reduced deforestation, Avoided/reduced deforestation treatment.

Module 5: Climate Change Adaptation
Anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause, or taking advantage of opportunities that may arise. It has been shown that well planned, early adaptation action saves money and lives later. Adaptation measures: using scarce water resources more efficiently; adapting building codes to future climate conditions and extreme weather events; building flood defences and raising the levels of dykes; developing drought-tolerant crops; choosing tree species and forestry practices less vulnerable to storms and fires; and setting aside land corridors to help species migrate. Adaptation strategies are needed at all levels of administration: at the local, regional, national and also the international level.

Modules 6: Climate Change, Biodiversity Conservation and Food Security
The direct impacts of climate change on biodiversity include: Changes in phenology, which may lead to loss of synchrony between species, Changes in species abundance and distribution (including arrival and loss of species), Changes in community composition, Changes in ecosystem processes, Loss of space, eg. due to sea level rise. Iindirect impacts to biodiversity through changes in socio-economic drivers, working practices, cultural values, policies and use of land and other resources. Practical Action Plan: Conserve existing biodiversity, Conserve protected areas and all other high quality habitats, Use existing biodiversity legislation and international agreements, Create buffer zones around high quality habitats, Take prompt action to control spread of invasive species, Maintain existing ecological networks, Conserve range and ecological variability of habitats and species. Climate change and food security strategies: improved crop, soil and water management practices and stress-tolerant varieties

6.  Mushroom production. Duration: One week

Cultivation of mushroom, planning establishment and Management,
Economic, food, nutritional and medicinal value of mushrooms, production, postharvest handling, utilization and marketing.

7.  Hatchery management
Synopsis: what is a hatchery?
Hatchery location. Hatchery design and construction. Relevance of hatchery climate control. Optimizing hatchery design for peak performance. Egg handling in hatcheries. Types of egg incubators/hatchers. Cleaning/disinfecting programmes. Incubation protocols and candling. Handling chicks. Hatchery waste disposal. Chick transport. Hatchery records.

8.  Aquaculture & Fisheries Management
Economic Importance of Fish, Fish feed formulation and production, Nutritional Requirements of Fish, Fish Feed Formulation Methods, Recommended Nutrient Content of grower rations for three culturable fish species (% of air-dry matter), Dietary protein requirement of some locally cultured fish species, Processing Methods of Some Local Feedstuffs, Feeding Practices, Fish pond water quality assessment and management, fish disease prevention and control, fish breeding, Determination of Sex, Spawning Season, Types of Hormones, Injection of Female Spawners, Collection of the Milt, Stripping of Female Spawners, Fertilization of Eggs, Incubation of Eggs, Some practical hints to reduce larval and early juvenile cannibalism in aquaculture fish species, Management Procedures, Fish seed management, design and construction of fish ponds, tanks and cages, Water supply system (Gates), Spillways, Pond Preparation.

9.  Pragmatic approaches to livestock feed formulation and feed milling operations.
General considerations in feed formulation, methods of feed formulation, Pearsons square, balancing for energy and protein. Case study formulations, Energy: protein ratio, computer in feed formulation, linear programming etc. State of commercial feed milling industries in Nigeria; constraints and prospects. Types of mixture and procedures of production, grinding, granulation, expending, extrusion, dehulling, feed distribution and supply. Cost considerations in commercial feed milling, feed cost reduction measures e.g. stock pilling of ingredients, use of alternative feed stuffs etc.

Last Updated on February 25, 2014 by admin