The document outlines the contents of a one-day training for farmers on paddy production. The training covers topics such as land preparation, seed selection, transplanting, weeding and pest management, use of fertilizers, irrigation water management, harvesting techniques, and rice mechanization. The goal is for farmers to learn improved techniques to increase yields, replenish soil fertility, efficiently use water and mechanization, and reduce post-harvest losses.

1. CONTENTS OF FARMERS TRAINING.
(Paddy Production)
(ONE DAY TRAINING)
1. Land and nursery preparation
a. Field cleaning
b. Primary cultivation
c. Secondary cultivation
Farmers are expected to learn:
a. The importance of field leveling in order to ensure uniform plant growth and efficient use
of irrigation water.
b. Preparation of nursery (i.e. beds, estimates of seed requirement, and seed sowing).
2. Seed Selection
Farmers are expected to learn the following:-
a. Availability and usability of quality seeds that will result in high yield performance
b. Selection of best seeds to ensure complete germination in the nursery and good
uniform growth in the field.
c. Use of water concentrated with salt and an egg in selecting the best health seeds for
sawing in nurseries.
3. Transplanting
Traditionally, farmers transplant their seedlings after 21 up to 45 days, transplanting
about 2 up to 8 seedlings per hole in a haphazard way. This technique has been
observed to cause delays in completing farm operations, besides poor plant population,
non uniform crop growth and yield.
Farmers are expected to learn the following:-
a. Acquiring knowledge on seedlings preparation and transplanting of one seedling per
hole in straight rows within the shortest time possible (8-14 days only).
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2. b. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) recommended spacing of 25cm within and between
rows
4. Weeding and Pest management
Traditionally, farmers control weeds in their fields after 21 up to 40 days from the date of
transplanting. The weeding is done manually by hand pulling the weeds. Occasionally,
herbicides are used by some few farmers only. In this topic, therefore, farmers are
expected to learn the following:-
a. Mechanical weeding, done 14 to 21 days after transplanting.
b. Effective use of herbicides and insecticides to control weeds and insect pests
respectively.
5. Use of organic and inorganic fertilizer.
Majority of smallholder farmers are not using fertilizer to raise their paddy crop, because
they believe the soil has enough of the required nutrients. Others have limited
knowledge on the importance of plant nutrients and some do believe fertilizer,
particularly inorganic, when applied cause detrimental damage to the soil. Under this
topic farmers are expected to learn the following:-
a. The importance of plant nutrition particularly the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers
to replenish soil fertility
b. The importance of plant nutrients for increased productivity and production in farm fields
that are normally used to raise paddy every year.
6. Irrigation water management
Most of the smallholder farmers produce rice under flood irrigation. The crop remains in
the water throughout its growth cycle. Water is normally drained only to allow for
harvesting. This technique dictates excess use of water, a resource which is now
becoming scarce as a result of the effects of climate change. In order for the farmers to
produce sustainably, while adapting to the effects of climate change, they are expected
to learn the following:-
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3. a. Efficient use of irrigation water by applying to paddy fields only when required
(alternating flooding Vs drying the fields-SRI technique).
b. How to triple paddy yields on the same piece of land by adapting SRI
7. Harvesting and Post harvest Technology
The most common harvesting technique is the use sickles to cut the crop manually,
collected on to well prepared surface and threshed by beating with wooden sticks. This
technology is local, tedious and produces low quality paddy resulting into poor quality
rice. In this regard the training is expected to equip the farmers with the following
techniques:-
a. Alternative harvesting techniques with the use of rice mechanization tools/equipment,
e.g. reaper harvesters, etc
b. Threshing techniques with the use of motorized threshers, etc
c. Crop storage techniques to reduce post harvest losses
8. Rice Mechanization Techniques
Majority of the farmers carry out their farming operations with the use of hand tools. In
this, regard, smallholder farmers are expected to acquire knowledge and skills in the
following:-
a. Use of different farming tools/equipment to improve labor productivity
b. Formation and Importance of machinery hire service centers
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