Report on Citizen Scientist Training in Nakasongola District, Kalungi and Lwabwata Sub-counties
Background
Work package 4 (Biosphere), one of the 4 main TWIGA work packages implemented at Makerere university focuses on monitoring vegetation in general and crop development in particular, coinciding with the sixth objective to produce accurate maps of land cover, land use, and crop status. However, because African agriculture is characterised by small scale and mixed cropping patterns, the project will employ Citizen-scientists and UAVs to produce the necessary spatial and temporal granularity.
TWIGA Makerere identified Nakasongola district due to its vulnerability to effects of climate change and already established linkages, to be the place for the implementation of WP-4 activities. In line with that and with support from the district production department, 16 citizen scientists were identified and a training conducted from the 7th Dec, 2020 to 10th Dec, 2020.
Training Objectives
Training report
Day 1:
A: Prof John Kaddu opening remarks on behalf of the Head of department of Zoology Makerere University B: Nicholas Olango training citizen scientists on good maize agronomic practices
Day 2:
A: One of the CS stands up to respond to a review question from the previous days training
B: Ms. Saudah distributing smartphone accessories to citizen scientists
C: Nicholas guiding a CS on proper use of a smartphone.
D: A CS navigates through the VegMon App
E: Trainees pose for a group photograph with their phones and accessories outside the training venue, Front row: 1st to the left is Nicholas, and 3rd to the right is Ms. Saudah
Day 3:
A: One of the CS stands up to respond to a review question from the previous days training
B: Ms. Saudah distributing smartphone accessories to citizen scientists
C: Nicholas guiding a CS on proper use of a smartphone.
D: A CS navigates through the VegMon App
E: Trainees pose for a group photograph with their phones and accessories outside the training venue, Front row: 1st to the left is Nicholas, and 3rd to the right is Ms. Saudah
Conclusions
Recommendations
Written by: Olango Nicholas
Makerere University.