BENEFIT-SBN has provided electronic and printed soya bean and mung bean production guides, and a guide to the identification and control of sesame pests, diseases and weeds for seven woreda agricultural offices in the West Gondar and Awi Zones, on the 8^th of June 2020. The support programme also compiled soft copies of all the extension materials including short videos, training manuals, broachers, leaflets, power point presentations and other resources and provided to the woreda representatives with a USB stick. The extension materials were developed in collaboration with Gondar and Humera Agricultural Research Centers (GARC and HuARC).

During the event that took place at GARC compound 5,340 sesame and disease identification and control guide, 8,940 soy bean and 6,840 mung bean production guides were handed over to representatives from woreda agriculture offices. Mr Andualem Mulu, head of the Central Gondar Agriculture Department, who provided the materials said: “This year, COVID-19 is causing problems in our country and in the region. The sesame sector, which is our main source of foreign currency, is one of the areas affected by this pandemic. We need to overcome this problem and strengthen our crop production and extension communication activities.” He appreciated Benefit-SBN and GARC for their effort in producing the extension materials. He added: “This kind of interesting and easy-to-understand publication is especially important in the field of crop protection in our areas. ” He added, “we have to use the publications vary carefully and enhance the knowledge and skills of our experts and farmers.”

Mr. Asfaw Azanaw, director of the GARC said: “The print materials and the extension resources provided in softcopies are very important resources that can be used for long-term. The materials are prepared based on research results and practical evidences. In this time of pandemic, these publications are valuable resources that can facilitate door-to-door extension and counseling services by maintaining physical distances.”

Finally, representatives of the Agriculture Office from Mirab Armachiho, Tach Armachiho, Tegede and Metema woredas received the publication in hard copies and extension communication resources in softcopies with USB stick. The representatives said that publications would make their work easier and more effective, especially during this pandemic, would help them keep their social distance while effectively carrying out their extension and counselling activities.