Training Course on Sustainable Agroforestry and Permaculture Design

Training Course on Sustainable Agroforestry and Permaculture Design

Introduction

Sustainable agroforestry and permaculture design are gaining global attention as innovative and regenerative solutions to food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation. Training Course on Sustainable Agroforestry and Permaculture Design is crafted to empower participants with the knowledge, tools, and practices needed to establish ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible land-use systems. By integrating tree crops, perennial plants, and sustainable agricultural methods, learners will discover how to mimic natural ecosystems for long-term productivity and environmental resilience.

The course emphasizes climate-smart agriculture, carbon sequestration, and eco-restoration techniques through hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and practical design projects. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge on key topics such as food forests, soil regeneration, water harvesting, polycultures, and zero-waste systems. Whether for smallholder farmers, land planners, or environmental entrepreneurs, this course delivers future-ready skills for sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem stewardship.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the fundamentals of agroecology and regenerative agriculture.
2. Learn principles and ethics of permaculture design.
3. Design and implement climate-resilient agroforestry systems.
4. Explore carbon farming and carbon credit opportunities.
5. Apply soil conservation and composting techniques for fertility.
6. Master water management systems like swales and keyline design.
7. Integrate food forest design and edible landscapes.
8. Evaluate biodiversity enhancement methods in farming systems.
9. Develop sustainable income models through agroforestry.
10. Create closed-loop systems for zero-waste farming.
11. Analyze global case studies of successful permaculture farms.
12. Enhance community engagement through social permaculture.
13. Utilize GIS and mapping tools for site analysis and planning.

Target Audiences

1. Smallholder and commercial farmers
2. Agricultural extension officers
3. Environmental and climate change professionals
4. Policy makers in agriculture and land management
5. Rural development NGOs and CBOs
6. Eco-entrepreneurs and agribusiness investors
7. Permaculture designers and consultants
8. Students and researchers in agroecology

Course Duration: 10 days
Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Sustainable Agroforestry

• Definition, scope, and importance
• Benefits to ecology, economy, and society
• Agroforestry types and practices
• Global trends in sustainable land use
• Challenges and opportunities
• Case Study: Kenya’s Green Belt Movement

Module 2: Permaculture Principles and Ethics

• Three core ethics: Earth care, People care, Fair share
• Twelve permaculture principles
• Observation and holistic thinking
• Zoning and sector analysis
• Ethics in land management
• Case Study: Zaytuna Farm, Australia

Module 3: Site Assessment and Design Basics

• Landform and topography analysis
• Climate, water, and soil assessments
• Plant selection and guilds
• Mapping and base plan creation
• Risk and opportunity analysis
• Case Study: Tamera Ecovillage, Portugal

Module 4: Soil Health and Regeneration

• Soil biology and structure
• Mulching, composting, and cover cropping
• No-till and organic amendments
• Mycorrhizal fungi and soil microbes
• Testing and monitoring soil health
• Case Study: Regenerative Farm Systems in India

Module 5: Water Harvesting and Management

• Swales and contour bunds
• Rainwater catchment and storage
• Greywater recycling
• Keyline design
• Preventing erosion and runoff
• Case Study: Water Retention Landscapes in Ethiopia

Module 6: Food Forests and Polyculture Systems

• Canopy layering and perennial crops
• Companion planting strategies
• Seasonal succession planning
• Edible landscaping
• Wildlife-friendly practices
• Case Study: Beacon Food Forest, USA

Module 7: Climate-Smart Agroforestry

• Agroforestry for carbon sequestration
• Climate adaptation strategies
• Fire-resistant planting
• Agroclimatic zoning
• Enhancing ecosystem services
• Case Study: Sahel Eco, Mali

Module 8: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

• Habitat creation for beneficial species
• Native species integration
• Pollination and pest control
• Enhancing ecological niches
• Connecting corridors and buffers
• Case Study: Auroville Reforestation, India

Module 9: Organic Inputs and Natural Pest Management

• Biofertilizers and biochar
• Indigenous pest control methods
• Crop rotation and diversity
• Pest-predator balance
• Building plant resilience
• Case Study: Masanobu Fukuoka’s Natural Farming, Japan

Module 10: Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Design

• Solar-powered irrigation and fencing
• Greenhouse and compost toilet designs
• Earthbag and cob structures
• Low-impact construction
• Energy-efficient tools and systems
• Case Study: Earthship Biotecture, New Mexico

Module 11: Agroforestry Enterprises and Markets

• High-value tree crops and NTFPs
• Market access and value chains
• Agro-tourism and education centers
• Business models for sustainability
• Cooperative and community enterprises
• Case Study: Moringa Cooperative, Ghana

Module 12: Social Permaculture and Community Design

• Sociocracy and decision-making
• Community gardens and shared land
• Building local economies
• Permaculture education and outreach
• Gender and equity in agroforestry
• Case Study: Transition Town Movement, UK

Module 13: Urban Agroforestry and Rooftop Permaculture

• Designing in limited urban spaces
• Container gardening systems
• Rooftop water and soil management
• Urban composting solutions
• Local food networks
• Case Study: Incredible Edible Todmorden, UK

Module 14: Policy, Advocacy, and Agroforestry Governance

• Land tenure and indigenous rights
• Incentives for sustainable farming
• Integrating agroforestry in policy
• Community-based natural resource management
• Stakeholder engagement strategies
• Case Study: UN REDD+ Agroforestry Programmes

Module 15: Monitoring, Evaluation & Project Scaling

• KPIs for sustainability projects
• Participatory M&E tools
• Adapting to local contexts
• Digital tools and dashboards
• Scaling successful interventions
• Case Study: Trees for the Future Scaling Model

Training Methodology

• Participatory lectures and hands-on workshops
• Group work, simulations, and problem-solving tasks
• Design labs and field-based learning
• Storytelling, video documentation, and peer reviews
• Real-life case studies and expert guest sessions
• Interactive digital learning platforms and toolkits

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.