For the purposes of integrating project resources, increasing the forage grass production, product processing and marketing and cattle-rearing levels of the project counties (districts), broadening the publicity of the project training effect, and promoting the application of the participatory method in the project training work, Gansu Project Office of Sustainable Agriculture Development Program (SADP), Phase-II and Gansu Project Office of World Bank Gansu Pastoral Development Project (GPDP) jointly sponsored a training workshop on forage grass production, processing and cattle-rearing technologies in Anding District of Dingxi City and Tianshui City, Gansu Province, respectively on September 14-16 and on September 20-21, 2007. 40 people participated in the training activities held in Anding District of Dingxi City; and 35 people participated in the training activities held in Tianshui City.

Tianshui City Government, Anding District Government and Animal Husbandry Bureau gave great attention and strong support to this training. Mr. Kevin Yaworski, a Canadian expert in forage grass production, Prof. Zhang Rongchang, an experienced teacher of Gansu Agricultural University who has long been engaged in research of cattle-rearing, and Prof. Wu Jinfeng who has been engaged in forage grass production and marketing for many years, were invited to act as facilitators of the two training classes.

This training uses the participatory method by combining theory with practice, lectures with discussions and field visits with on-site guidance. Mr. Kevin Yaworski introduced Canadian advanced experiences and successful practices in hay processing and silage technology. Prof. Wu Jinfeng gave an excellent account of forage grass production in our province, especially the business situation of alfalfa production, mechanization, processing level, market situation, development situation, problems existed and solutions. By considering problems existed in the cattle-rearing industry of our province, such as emphasis on improvement of varieties and negligence of fast growth through complete feeds and traditional rearing methods, Prof. Zhang Yongri focused his lecture on some practical technologies such as the best time for cattle rearing and fattening, the prescriptions for top-quality feedstuffs, the management of high-grade cattle meat production and other points for attention. The trainees of Dingxi training workshop visited the quality alfalfa production base at Jinpen Mountain, Anding District, the alfalfa processing factory of Gansu Tianyao Grass Technology Co., Ltd., the processing of silage at Nanchuan Science Park of Anding District, and the construction of sustainable development project pilot at Quanwan Village, Xiangquan Town of Anding District. The trainees of Tianshui training workshop visited the meat cattle rearing base at Huoping Village, Zhongtan Town of Maiji District, the quality forage grass production base of Tianshui Jiaxin Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. for breeding of improved cattle, and learned about the feedstuff processing machines, as well as the management and production of feedstuff. Through these visits and study tours, the trainees have seen not only the large-scale quality forage grass planting bases with their own eyes, but also the equipment for industrialized processing of forage grass, which greatly increases their perceptual knowledge and the training effect, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the training contents.

This training is rich in content. The techniques taught are practicable and applicable. The language used by the trainers is popular and easy to understand. The trainees are eager to learn. And besides, the discussion conducted by combining with the local reality broadens the trainees’ mind. Through this training, more experiences are accumulated for the two projects in strengthening cooperation, integrating resources and increasing the training effect.