In an age when technology is constantly redefining the contours of agriculture, the project “Renforcement et Rénovation du Dispositif d’Ingénierie de Formation Agricole et Rurale à Distance” heralds a significant step towards improving agricultural and rural skills on a large scale. It was officially launched on Monday 27 November 2023 in Lomé.
It aims to rethink and modernise approaches to agricultural and rural training using information and communication technologies. The project will make it possible to reach a wider audience, offer more innovative training and meet the needs of the job market, especially for young people and women. The REDIFARD project will modernise correspondence courses, which have long been promoted by the Inades-Formation network since its inception in the 1960s and which have now reached their limits.
REDIFARD will incorporate advanced technological tools such as online platforms, interactive courses, educational videos and virtual training sessions. These technologies will enable learning to be customised, adapting programmes to the specific needs of each learner. In addition, they will offer the flexibility needed for participants to follow courses according to their own timetable. With online courses, learners will also be able to interact with their trainers and peers in real time.
The theoretical courses will be supplemented by practical phases at the Inades-Formation Togo training and experimentation centre currently under construction in Tchamba. They will alternate with online courses to facilitate the acquisition and transmission of skills to learners.
The success of this project depends on strategic partnerships between training institutions, farming organisations, local government and technology companies. Collaboration between these players will ensure effective implementation and ongoing adaptation to changes in the agricultural sector.
“This project is further proof of Inades-Formation Togo’s commitment to training those directly involved in the rural agricultural sector, particularly young people and women. We are convinced that online courses will help train the skills the country needs to contribute to agricultural development. The project is also part of the implementation of the Togolese government’s roadmap, which aims to make agriculture a driving force in the Togolese economy”, said Mr SABI Iyatan, member of the Board of Directors, representing the President at the official launch of the project.
The “Renforcement et Rénovation du Dispositif d’Ingénierie de Formation Agricole et Rurale à Distance” REDIFARD project offers the promise of a flourishing, resilient agricultural sector in tune with the demands of a constantly changing world. It is financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through the Formation Agricole et Rurale (FAR) international network and with the support of MISEREOR and Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM). In the coming months, the Learning Management System (LMS) platform will be launched, marking the effective start of the courses.
