Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Training for Avocado Producers in Myanmar

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In Myanmar, the expanding avocado industry needed technical assistance to improve the drip irrigation and fertigation system designs that affect the reliability of fruit set and high crop yields. To help improve the current state of the industry, the Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association (MAVO) requested a F2F volunteer to review the current use of irrigation and fertigation in orchard management, and to determine if the trees were receiving the nutrients required for high fruit quality and yields. 

Dr. Jonathan Deenik and Jensen Uyeda completed this virtual assignment together. Dr. Deenik has a Masters and PhD in Soil Science and is currently the Chair of the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mr. Jensen Uyeda has a bachelors and Masters in Tropical Horticulture and is currently an Assistant Extension Agent at the same university. Mr. Uyeda provided training on the practical aspects of irrigation and fertigation systems, including rainwater catchment and irrigation theory. Dr. Deenik, who had volunteered in Myanmar in person in the past, complemented with his expertise on soils of Myanmar, soil fertility and nutrient management in the Myanmar context. 

The online trainings, which occurred in September 2020, were a huge success. More than 40 people were trained, including the MAVO chairman and secretary. Additionally, MAVO transmitted the trainings live through Facebook to its 10,000 followers. During the sessions, the participants were actively involved and had interesting discussions. At the end of the assignment, the avocado farmers knew how to collect rainwater, how much water and fertilizer their plantations needed, how to irrigate and fertigate through drip irrigation, what the best type of soil was for avocado production, the importance of organic matter and compost, and about the 4R nutrient stewardship concept.

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