PlantwisePlus Blog

Bangladesh is enhancing its agricultural diploma education by incorporating PlantwisePlus learning and decision-making resources to improve farmer advisory services nationwide. Instructors at the country’s Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) will now have access to digital tools from CABI Academy and PlantwisePlus, which are being integrated into the ATI curriculum. Bangladesh Technical Education Board and CABI recently organized a workshop to ensure instructors are well-equipped to share this knowledge with their students.

Bangladesh took a significant step towards enhancing agricultural education at the end of August. Held at the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) Conference Room in Agargaon, Dhaka, a comprehensive capacity-building training program was organized for ATI (Agriculture Training Institute) Instructors. This event, hosted by BTEB in collaboration with CABI, aimed to promote the integration of CABI Academy resources and digital tools in agricultural diploma education, strengthening the foundation for effective farmer advisory services nationwide.

The two-day training program equipped ATI instructors with the knowledge and skills to utilize digital tools and educational platforms developed by CABI, such as CABI Academy, PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank and CABI Bioprotection Portal. These tools facilitate the instructors’ role in supporting agricultural students, who will go on to provide vital extension services to farmers throughout Bangladesh.

Training on digital tool use

The training was inaugurated by the Chairman (Prof. Md. Mamun Ul Haque) of BTEB, with remarks from several esteemed guests, including the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and CABI officials. The key objective of the training was to strengthen the capacity of instructors to use CABI’s online courses and digital tools in agricultural diploma curricula, ensuring students gain the practical and digital skills needed for modern agricultural advisory roles. Dr. Md. Saleh Ahmed, CABI Country Representative for Bangladesh, provided an overview of CABI’s work in Bangladesh, focusing on the PlantwisePlus initiative. PlantwisePlus is dedicated to increasing food security by enabling farmers to make sustainable decisions about their crop protection. PlantwisePlus equips agricultural service providers with gender-equitable resources and decision-support tools, empowering them to effectively share their crop health expertise with farmers.

Introduction to Digital Tools and ICT Integration

Homaira Jahan Sonom, CABI Programme Officer for Bangladesh, introduced the attendees to the various PlantwisePlus digital tools. This was followed by a presentation by Dr Md. Abdul Malek, Curriculum Specialist (Agriculture) BTEB, highlighted the preparedness of the ATI instructors for using ICT tools in their teaching and student engagement.

Interactive Sessions on CABI Academy courses

Led by experts such as Dr Md. Rashedul Islam, Head of the Department of Entomology at Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University and Prof. Dr Md. Ahsanul Haque Swapon from Bangabandhu Shiekh Mojubur Rahman Agricultural University, the training featured hands-on sessions on courses offered through the CABI Academy. Courses, including Crop Pest Diagnosis, Crop Pest Management and Introduction to Bioprotection Products, were covered in depth, with demonstrations on how instructors could achieve Foundation and Practitioner certificates, adding a level of practical certification to their training efforts.

Utilizing the PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank

The instructors engaged in an interactive exercise on the PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank, a repository of information and resources that supports diagnosing plant problems and suggesting eco-friendly solutions. This knowledge base is a crucial tool for instructors in classroom settings, equipping future agricultural advisors with the ability to make data-driven decisions in the field.

Hands-on Practice with Digital Tools

To ensure practical learning, the instructors could download and practice using the CABI Bioprotection Portal and the Plantwise Factsheet Library app. This hands-on session allowed them to become familiar with the digital platforms that will soon be integral to their teaching methods and advisory roles.

The training concluded with a feedback session, during which participants provided insights into their experience and shared suggestions for further improvement. The closing remarks highlighted the importance of integrating CABI’s digital tools and online courses into the ATI curriculum, ensuring that the instructors are fully prepared to pass on this knowledge to their students.

Training the next generation of agricultural professionals

This capacity-building training marks an important step towards modernizing agricultural education in Bangladesh. This programme supports the overall goal of improving farmer advisory services using innovative digital resources by equipping ATI instructors with the tools and knowledge to effectively train future agricultural advisors. CABI and BTEB’s collaboration in this effort represents a commitment to fostering sustainable agricultural practices and empowering the next generation of agricultural professionals.

As agricultural challenges continue to evolve, integrating digital solutions into educational curricula will remain crucial for developing effective and sustainable agricultural advisory services in Bangladesh.

Further reading

PlantwisePlus develops agro-input dealer training scheme with Bangladesh government 

PlantwisePlus gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands; European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA, EU); the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom; and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).