This guide will help you use the African Eggplant Vegetable
Module Training Set . The set is designed to encourage group
discussion as well as provide information on the production
techniques of african eggplant. As the facilitator, read through
and familiarise yourself with the entire guide before facilitating
any discussion for the first time.
FACILITATOR’S GUIDE
Module Training Set
African Eggplant
(Solanum gilo)
Vegetable Growing
Using Visual Aids and Participatory Learning
We know that people learn better if they are actively engaged in
the learning process. Studies have shown that we remember only
20% of the information we hear and 40% of the information we
see and hear. However, when we see ideas represented visually
and also actively engage with the information through discussion,
debates, role-plays or other participatory teaching methods,
learners retain 80% or more of the information that is presented
to them.
Clearly as instructors, it is worth the time and effort to create
participatory, multi-sensory presentations. The African Eggplant
Vegetable Module Training Set is a tool designed to assist
you in this effort. There is no one way to use it. We are always
interested in improving our product, so if you have suggestions,
comments, or questions please contact us.
This facilitator’s guide is written in English but depending on
your audience, you may need to make your presentation in the
local language. Read through the guide and consider how you
translate concepts into the local language.
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PART 1. TRAINING CHECKLIST
Make sure you can answer YES to each question before
beginning the session.
• Did you gather background information about the group you
are going to train?
• Did you review the facilitator’s guide and charts?
• Do you understand the key issues to cover for each chart?
• Does the venue have enough seats and space?
• Do you have all the materials you need for the activities and
discussions?
Ou tline of a tr aining session:
1. Welcome and introductions (5 minutes)
2. Review of the session objectives (5 minutes)
3. Large group presentation and discussion of the charts in the
training module (Approximately 5 minutes per chart)
4. Ice breaker (5 minutes)
5. Break into small groups and answer the following: (20
minutes)
– What are 3 things I learnt today ?
– What is 1 action I will take as a result of this training ?
– What questions do I still have about the topic ?
6. Sharing of small group discussions in the large group (10
minutes)
7. Summarize and conclude the session (15 minutes)
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PART 2. OBJECTIVES FOR THE TRAINING
By the end of this training, participants will have learnt:
• The benefits of using quality seeds
• To conduct a germination test
• To selecting a good site for african eggplant vegetable growing
• To prepare quality seeds for planting
• To prepare and apply fertilizer/manure
• To plant african eggplant vegetables
• When and how to weed
• To manage pests and diseases
• To carry out proper harvesting
• The methods used to preserve vegetables
PART 3. HOW TO USE THE TRAINING SET
• Show the first chart to the participants.
• Read the title of the chart.
• Ask participants to answer the question and explain what they
know about the topic.
• Reinforce accurate information given and correct wrong
information.
• Read the tagline on the chart.
• Ask participants if they have any questions about what has
been discussed.
• Go to the next chart.
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CHART 1: Logo chart *
African eggplant is known by different names across the country:
in Luganda Entula , in Acholi Tula and in Ateso Entula . African
eggplants range in shapes, sizes and colour. The scientific name
for african eggplant is Solanum gilo .
The african eggplant fruit is usually picked and eaten as a
vegetable.
* This is a logo chart.
PART 4. THE DISCUSSION SESSION
A) THE VEGETABLE CHART SET
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CHART 2: Use quality seed for better yields
Use quality seeds of a recommended variety. Quality seeds are a
fundamental requirement for good production. Home processed
seed can also be of good quality if it is well processed and
stored. Using quality seeds ensures:
• Lower seeding rate
• Higher seedling emergence, usually above 85%
• Vigorous seedlings
• More uniform plant stand
• Faster growth rate
• Better resistance to pests and diseases
• Uniformity in maturity
• The plant is more tolerant to drought
Quality seed should be of uniform size, colour and shape. It
should also be free of foreign matter such as weed seed, chaff
and should be pest and disease free.
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CHART 3: Conduct a germination test
Before sowing, test seed for viability and germination potential by
conducting a quick germination test. Follow the steps below:
• Get representative samples of seeds from the top, middle and
bottom of the seed bag.
• Mix the sample seeds and count 100 seeds to use for the test
(for small seed quantities, farmers can count 20 seeds).
• Put the seeds in a container of water for 24 hours.
• Drain off the water and wrap the seeds in the soaked cotton
cloth to create a bag holding the seeds.
• Tie the cloth bag to a stick. Tilt the stick to encourage drainage
from the cloth bag. Keep the cloth moist by watering 3 times a
day. Leave it tied for 48 hours.
• Untie the cloth bag and count the number of seeds that have
fully germinated (both the shoot and roots have emerged).
• If 85 of the 100 seeds or 17 of the 20 seeds or more have both
the shoot and roots emerged within 2 weeks, then it is quality
seed which can be used for planting.
• If the percentage is slightly less than 85 of the 100 seeds,
increase the seed rate at planting. If the percentage is less
than 40%, discard the seed. Do not use the seed because it
will have poor yields.
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CHART 4: Site selection
• Vegetables grow well on flatland, lowland and upland if
terracing and raising of beds is practiced to control soil
erosion.
• In lowlands, dig channels to drain or divert excessive water.
Vegetables grow well in lowlands during the dry season (off
season).
• Fertile loam soil is the best soil for growing vegetables.
• The site should not have tree shades as some trees have
pests and diseases. They could damage the plants.
• The soil should not be rocky.
• The soil should be fertile or manure should be added.
• The soil should be well drained.
• Close proximity to home is ideal but vegetables are
threatened by domestic birds and animals.
• The site should have good access to a water source.
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CHART 5: Land preparation
• Land preparation starts with clearing or cutting of all the
tall grasses, removing trees including stumps, cutting down
bushes, and removing stones and other obstacles from the
field. This is done to ease the ploughing processes and all
other farming activities.
• Do not burn the bushes because burning exposes the soil to
erosion and also reduces soil fertility due to loss of nutrients.
• After clearing the land, plough the field for the first time and
ensure that the soil has very small debris.
• If the field has perennial weeds, spray with herbicides such as
weedmaster, glyphosate and roundup. Remember to contact
an agriculture extension worker for guidance on herbicide.
• A second ploughing is followed by harrowing until the soil
makes fine tilth (very small particles).
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CHART 6: Nursery bed preparation
African eggplants grow best when propagated in a nursery bed
and then transplanted into the main garden. To establish an
african eggplant nursery bed, follow the guidelines below:
• When selecting a site for the nursery bed, ensure that it is
not near drainage channels, not on a slope and near a clean
source of water.
• The nursery bed should be raised at least 20cm from the
ground. Recommended width is 1 metre by any convenient
length. Loosen the soil for easy penetration of roots. Add well
decomposed manure to the soil before sowing the seeds.
• Sowing of seed in the bed: Make drills 15cm apart and 2cm
deep. Sow the seed and cover with a thin layer of soil. Apply
mulch and water through the mulch. Continue watering to
keep the soil moist. It is preferable to water in the evening.
Seeds will germinate 10-14 days after sowing. Remove mulch
from the seedlings and put it between rows.
• Set up a shade over the nursery bed. The shade should be
1m high. Ensure that the nursery bed is facing away from the
sun. The shade roof should be made out of light materials to
allow sunshine to reach the seedlings.
