The Small Farmers Adapting to Global Markets Project (SFAGM) held the seed potato training in the pilot project site of Wuchuan in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) from 20 to 25 July 2007. At the invitation of SFAGM, Canadian potato experts Sam Elkady and Walter Arsenault, in the capacity of trainer, conducted exchanges of Canadian experience with trainees from Chinese project sites. Meanwhile, Chinese counterpart experts were also invited to deliver guidance to the trainees. Agriculture technology extension workers from major potato growing areas in IMAR, undergraduates majoring in agronomy from Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, trainees from Pengzhou, Sichuan province and Wuchuan attended the training program, and the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine also selected trainees from its project site in Li County of Gansu province to participate in the training.

The training was built on the seed potato training held last year in Wuchuan where the Canadian experts Sam Elkady and Walter Arsenault also involved. The project held the seed potato training for the second time in the supply chain demonstration site of Wuchuan thanks to the effective training offered by the two experts in the previous year and trainees’ good comments. The Canadian experts have made improvements upon training contents based on the suggestions and feedback from the trainees to ensure the applicability and suitability for China.

The combination of in-door training and field practice has substantially increased trainees’ knowledge about potato and their practical hands-on ability in the field. Potato growing technologies were first lectured, which was then followed by practicing in the Seed Potato Culture Center in Wuchuan guided by Canadian experts. The trainees visited the virus-free potato plantlet tissue culture lab, net sheds, greenhouses, mini potato breeding and seed potato bank of the Center. Experts elaborated on the problems encountered and offered feasible suggestions for future development of the Center. Responsive to local needs, experts paid field trips to learn pest occurrence and identify its nature. With these in mind, they altered the training contents to better serve local needs. Training mainly focused on growing practice, seed potato harvest and storage, irrigation management, pest identification, prevention and treatment, Canada potato certification, marketing of commodity potato and seed potato through adopting in-door lecture and field practice to ensure effective and systematic learning.

On 23 July, the whole training class visited a potato-growing base in Damao Banner. Canadian experts joined the trainees in visiting various potato-growing approaches, such as scattered and small-scaled approach by small farmers, large-scale, modern growing approach by farms and local seed potato culture base. Damao Banner Industrialization Office briefed on local potato production and future development plan for the potato industry made by the local government. Experts offered their advice on local potato industry development. Mr. Walter believed that Damao Banner had favorable conditions to develop potato industry, as supported by its large-scale farm production capacity matching that of Canada.

The training was well received among trainees and local farmers who not only learned knowledge but also helped solve local problems. Trainees held that they were inspired by and learned a lot from the Canadian experts who had high-level knowledge and rich practical experience. Trainees from Hulunbeier Prefecture and Wulanchabu Prefecture in IMAR expected that similar trainings be held in their localities because they also grow vast areas of potato.