2010-04-30

Phase II of PBSP 2009/2010

The regional phase of the International Training Programme (ITP) in Plant Breeding and Seed production 2009/10 was held in Zambia from 15 to 26 of March, 2010.

Resource persons were drawn both from the public and private sector. Most areas of the seed sectors, such as plant breeding, seed production, seed control and certification, policies and laws etc. were covered. This was all mixed with visits to several seed farms and institutes. The main part of the course was implemented in and around the capital Lusaka since this is the area where the majority of institutes related to the seed industry are located as well as headquarters of most seed companies. Some days were also spent in the rural parts of the Southern Province. Thus an overall picture of the Zambian seed industry/agricultural sector, past and present, was presented.

Much attention was given to the participants individual Project of Change. The results were presented and feed- back given from fellow participants as well as resource persons. At the end, although the preparations started already during the first week, a role play was performed where each participant had to act as a certain stakeholder within a fictitious seed industry, Valhalla. It was a blend of seriousness and laughter and some in the group showed that they were really good actors. A very useful exercise to utilize the knowledge gained.

The 21 participants in this regional phase expressed their satisfaction with the model of the ITP, having one phase in Sweden, one regional phase and in between working with and individual Project of Change.

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