Transcript What does it take to produce “More Crop per Drop

What does it take to produce
“More Crop per Drop?”:
Assessing AET Systems in Jordan
Tom Hammett
Director, InnovATE, Virginia Tech
NACTA Conference, Montana State University
June 28, 2014
Innovation for Agricultural Training and Education
Who is innovATE?
The program is implemented
by a consortium of US
universities:
Virginia Tech with:
• Tuskegee University,
• Penn State University, and
• University of Florida
• Others to be added
The program has three
integrated components—
LEARN, DESIGN, and
TRAIN—that aim to
strengthen the full range of
institutions that train and
educate agricultural
professionals in:
Learn
Design
• Primary and Secondary schools
• Vocational & Technical schools
• Out of School Youth
• Workforce Development
• Higher Education Institutions
Train
InnovATE’s Role

Conduct assessments to determine AET capacity
and potential expansion in order to address their
agricultural needs and solve current issues

Multi-faceted approach:

Scoping Assessment

Assessment Findings

Recommendations
Scoping Assessment

InnovATE team from
multiple universities
visited Jordan for
scoping mission



Determine
demand for human
resources in Ag
Sector
Evaluated capacity
for growth
Assessed various
stakeholders
Stakeholders:
 Agriculture
universities
 private sector
 vocational programs
 curricula
 infrastructure
 Government
agencies
 NGOs
Findings:
 High
demand for
agricultural professionals
 Not
enough training in
skills and practical
experience
 Women
with agricultural
education face a lack of
job placement
 Vocational
education has a
bad reputation in
Jordanian society
Findings:

Limited interactions between policymakers,
between donor projects, and with educational
institutions

Lack of investment or reform in educational &
scientific institutions

Need to shift agricultural practices to achieve WSA

Limited public-private sector interactions
Four components of WSA
Research &
Extension
Agricultural
Education and
Training
WSA
Agricultural
Workforce
Communities,
CBOS, WUAs
Recommendations
 Update
curricula to reflect
advances in agriculture
 Create
more opportunities
for students & graduates
 E.g.
internships, extension
projects
 Economic
& political stability
due to increased job security
Recommendations

Develop certificate program in water-saving ag
to provide training and practical experience
for both students and current farmers, also to
provide more assets for employment

Establish partnership with Jordanian Office of
Water Resources and Environment and USAID to
implement these suggestions
A systemic approach to capacity building
Training
of CBOs
Training of
farmers, CBOs,
and students
Capacity
building of
extension
agents and
students
Capacity
building
of faculty
and
students
Capacity building next steps
Next step – jobs!
Global Potential

By implementing recommendations,
Jordan has the potential to set a global
precedent for investing in and innovating
WSA practices that can serve as a model
for numerous other countries facing water
scarcity due to climatic changes.
The innovATE AET Community of
Practice
•
Online network of agricultural
development professionals
•
Collaborative discussion spaces for AET
and agriculture
•
Resource sharing and project development
•
Global training events database
•
French and Spanish discussion pages
Search by topic, keyword,
tag or person
View newest members of
the community and
establish contacts
Get navigation help and
quick tips
View recent discussions
and resources
www.innovate-community.oired.vt.edu
Thank you to NACTA for allowing us to present and to our
sponsors and university partners who collaborated in
order to complete this project.
Innovation for Agricultural Training and Education
InnovATE is supported by a grant from USAID and
managed by Virginia Tech’s Office of
International Research, Education, and
Development (OIRED). This project was made
possible by the United States Agency for
International Development and the generous
support of the American people through USAID
Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-L-12-00002
Tom Hammett,
Director
Virginia Tech
[email protected]
www.oired.vt.edu
540-231-2716