September 2024 - Soils4Africa project completed training workshop for field campaign in Ethiopia

From August 6-9, 2024, the Soils4Africa project held a comprehensive training workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aimed at preparing participants for the upcoming field campaign. The workshop focused on equipping soil surveyors, laboratory experts, and geospatial specialists with the knowledge and skills required for efficient soil sampling and data collection. Hosted at the Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel, and with great institutional support from the Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, the training spanned three days of theoretical sessions followed by a day of practical fieldwork in the rural Mojo area.
The workshop kicked off with an introduction to the protocols for field surveys and sample collection. Participants received training on soil sample collection using the Open Data Kit (ODK) application, barcodes for sample tracking, and the use of the Soil Data Management Tool (SDMT) for job assignment and sampling point validation.
On the final day, practical training took place in Mojo, where the team navigated using the Maps.Me application to locate sampling sites. Participants conducted hands-on soil sampling, collecting topsoil, subsoil, and pesticide residue samples. This practical session solidified the theoretical knowledge from the previous days, ensuring that all participants were confident in applying the standard operating procedures for soil sample collection and processing.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Kiflu Gudeta (representative of the Country State Minister), who thanked project leaders Dr. Jeroen Huising and Dr. Samuel Mesele for their exceptional guidance. Participants expressed their satisfaction with the training and their readiness to contribute to Ethiopia’s soil data collection efforts under the Soils4Africa initiative.