Climate Smart 2013 - Climate Smart Agriculture Online Learning Course Begins January 16, 2013

A lack of coping strategies for adapting to a changing climate, depleted soils, unreliable access to water, and outmoded agricultural practices are leading to reduced agricultural productivity, income generation, and food security for smallholder farmers worldwide.
The Center for Sustainable Development?CSDi?is launching a fall quarter course on Climate Smart Agriculture that begins on January 16.
This course begins with a participatory mapping of cropping systems, soil and water resources, and climate change related challenges. Adaptation techniques are prioritized to best fit the local context and include:
-conservation agriculture
-low input agriculture
-contour barriers to water movement
-agroforestry
-water use conservation and management
-crop residue management and mulching
-improved crop varieties: early maturing and drought -resistant crops
-mixed cropping and crop rotations incorporating legumes
Course participants then conduct capacity building workshops on these new climate smart agricultural practices that are appropriate for the community. The course concludes with the development of a community management plan that combines traditional knowledge and improved agricultural techniques for building resilience.
OL 333. Climate Smart Agricultural Practices
January 16?March 11, 2013: 8 weeks.
Course participant solutions to climate challenges include integrating indigenous knowledge into project design, and participatory mapping of cropping systems and soil and water resources. Techniques for improving soil and managing water include mulching, contour leveling, zai infiltration pits, planting grass strips and hedgerows across the contour, intercropping, agroforestry, crop diversification and the use of early maturing and drought resistant crop varieties. The course includes downloadable manuals and field guides for each technique. See a full course syllabus.
Course fees range from $150 for citizens/residents of developed nations to $100 for citizens/residents of developing nations. Registration and Payment; there are only 2 steps for enrolling in the course: 1. Pay the course fee. 2. Fill out the Student Information form.
Complete information and course syllabi:
www.csd-i.org/ol-333-climate-smart-agricult/
CSDi provides the following continuing learning resources
All learning resources and course materials are freely downloadable from the course site and include:
-Scholarship opportunities for citizens of developing nations
-200 manuals & field guides of CBA activities
-300 Community Based Adaptation for Climate Change field activities
-Compilation of 50 program outlines for use in Community -Based Adaptation Projects
-Instructors that provide project consulting, suggestions, and encouragement individually for each student's assignment
Online course participants are using CSDi courses to develop on-the-ground projects with real communities; students from 143 different countries and 450 organizations have developed projects impacting 275,000 community members. To learn more about the students, the climate smart agricultural projects they have developed and about their communities, be sure and read our CBA Newsletter and our compilation of Adaptation projects.
Who should participate? Course participants are of all different ages, genders and professions?and have included Northern and Southern staff from INGOs, field staff from in-country NGOs, donors, executive directors, students, scientists, consultants and people who would like to transition into development work. Northern participants who don't have community access are partnered with Southern participants that do have community access.
Questions? Please contact:
Online.Learning-AT-csd-i.org
Sincerely,
Tim Magee, Executive Director
Center for Sustainable Development
The Center for Sustainable Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization specializing in providing sound, evidence-based information, tools and training for humanitarian development professionals worldwide.