ACHIEK

AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTRE

AKUEM, AWEIL EAST COUNTY S. SUDAN

AATC

PLANS FOR
2008

Creating a positive reaction

INITIAL STRATEGIES OF COLLABORATION AND TRANSITIONAL HANDING

OVER TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
HISTORY OF THE CENTRE

ACHIEK AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTRE –located in Akuem, Aweil East county; was founded by
International Aid services in partnership with SRRC in the year 2002 with the objective to improve the quality
and coverage of extension services in Bahrelghazal region and in S.Sudan as a whole in order to transform
the community from relief dependency to their own food sufficiency and reliance.

Aciek Agriculture training centre has the Vision -to Restore peoples dignity and transform their lives for
sustainable development by liberating community from dependency to self reliance and self supporting in
terms of food security and resource development. The mission is to promote sustainable agriculture and
rural development in the South Sudan through training and extension.

Facilities
The centre is located on a 5 acres land out of which 3 acres are for college demonstration farm. It is also
equipped with accommodation and teaching facilities. There is a classroom block of two classes able to
accommodate 40 trainees each. There are two office blocks, one dormitory, one store, one mess room and
six houses for staff accommodation. These facilities have been financed by International Aid Services.

Staff
Trainers are seconded to teach at the centre by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry S. Sudan
Government; with a few other tutors coming from East Africa. Since the inception, The SRRC Agriculture
department and the ministry of Agriculture at juba level have collaborated positively with IAS towards making
the training of extension workers successful.

Management
The centre has since the beginning to the year 2007 been managed by International Aid services.

PROGRAMS
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION IN BASIC AGRICULTURE
The centre offer 3 month intensive certificate training which commences in June 1 st of every year and runs
until August. Trainees graduate in the second week of September. The aim is to educate and train
interested women and men to be trainers of farming households and to be catalyst of development in their
own communities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRETERIA

The centre serves the entire region of Bahrelghazal. Trainee selection has therefore a rationale of
representation where possible. Chiefs, Administrative officials of the existing political strategies and SRRC
are involved in the identification and selection process (Interviews). Each county is required to identify 4
suitable applicants. Upper primary is the minimum academic requirement. The highest and lowest age limits
are 18 to 45 years respectively. Qualified men and women are given equal chances. Successful candidates
are sent with an official letter from the county authority, introducing him/her to the training centre. The centre
screens the applicant to ascertain eligibility. English is the main language of instruction.

Successful applicants arrange for their own transport to and from the centre.

CERTIFICATION
Certification is by the centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, GOSS -Aweil state. The
following certificates are offered:
 Certificate with Distinction
 Certificate with Credit
 Certificate with Good pass
 Certificate with Pass
 Certificate with attendance

CURRICULUM
The curriculum for training Agricultural extension workers is designed to develop sound judgment in the trainees and
impart the knowledge and skills necessary for efficient, sustainable farming and effective rural leadership. Teaching
methods include:

 Classroom teaching/lecturing
 Farm based practical skills (field demonstration)
 Case study
 Field/site visits
 Plenary/group discussion
 Quiz/assessment tests
 Role plays and drama

The course is delivered using a modular system and consists of the following:

No. Course code Hours

1 Agriculture extension and rural sociology A001 122
2 Agronomy A002 80
3 Human nutrition A003 30
4 Farm management A004 32
5 Horticulture A005 73
6 Agrofoestry A006 58
7 Livestock production A007 30

Teaching Aid/ visuals:

 Text books, posters, Charts, Life seedlings, tools, flip charts, white boards, Video.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Trainees participate in games, dramas, debates, entertainment etc.

Cost of the course:

The training started as an emergency intervention to respond to the urgent need of trained personnel from the local
community who would extend agricultural extension services to the farming households. It was since the year 2002
offered free as a way to motivate the potential applicants. The costs entail feeding, scholastic materials, garden tools
seeds and tuition. The cost per trainee is approximated at SDG 600 per month.

Trainees’ responsibility
In addition to ordinary clothes, trainees must bring with them the following:
 A pair of overalls
 A pair of gumboots
 Rain coat
 A blanket
 2 bed sheets
 Enough Bathing and washing soap

MEDICAL EXPENCES
All medical expenses incurred is the responsibility of the TRAINEE.

APPLICATION
The sate Ministry of Agriculture advertises for the intake of interested applicants. And ask county Agriculture officers
to carry out selection interviews at a specified time. The names of successful applicants are submitted to the state
Ministry which in turn send the names to the training centre by 20th April for planning purposes. The confirmed
applicants are expected to be in the centre on the 1st of June. Trainees seconded by organizations are interviewed and
sent by their respective organizations.
TARGETING
The centre aims at producing 40 extension workers each year. Counties are given equal chances as follows:

# COUNTIES CHANCES OFFERED

1 AEC 4
2 AWC 4
3 ANC 4
4 ACC 4
5 ASC 4
6 GOGRIAL 4
7 ABYEI 4
8 TUIC 4
9 WAU 4
10 RAGA 4
TOTAL 40

AATC ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2002 (In terms of extension workers trained)

YEAR/COUNTY 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 2007 Total

006
AEC 16 8 7 10 4 10 55
AWC 4 11 4 6 8 11 44
ANC 3 2 2 - 2 6 15
ACC - 4 1 2 8 15
ASC 3 4 6 9 10 2 34
GOGRIAL 1 - 1
ABYEI 2 4 - 6
WAU 1 - 1
TUICH 2 - 2
Total 26 28 30 26 26 37 173
PLANS FOR 2008

As it is a requirement from IAS major donor in this program, IAS has proposed that the
State ministry of Agriculture and Forestry takes over the running of the training centre
right from the year 2008. This entails the following stipulated activities:
 Conduct the intake process for the year’s interested applicants. This involves
sending out advertisement for the intake to the concerned officers in the counties.
 Planning for the centre; this entails preparation of budgets, mobilization of human
and other resources and paying the tutors. Tutors will entirely come from the
ministry of Agriculture and other relevant ministries.
 The day to day management of the training will be carried out by the principal
appointed by the ministry.
 Any development work at the centre will be planned for by the centres
administration together with the BOG.
 Curriculum review. The centre started with a three months curriculum. The state
ministry/GOSS can decide to review the curriculum as it wishes to suit one year or 2
years training. Tutors for the various courses will be an integral part of the
curriculum review committee.
 Tutors for the training centre will be permanent staff of the training centre or as the
ministry shall define.
 The centres administration shall conduct a follow up of the extension workers with
the assistance of county agriculture directors.
 The ministry will conduct follow up of the centre’s staff.

ASSETS
The attached are the assets of the training centre.