I would like to share a recently published regional resource that may be highly relevant for our work on drought resilience, land degradation, climate adaptation and advisory support in agriculture.
The Training Manual for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in the Western Balkans: Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture has been published by the Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development in South Eastern Europe (SWG RRD), within the regional process supported by GIZ.
The Manual is especially valuable because it is not limited to general messages on climate change. It provides a practical training framework for agricultural extension and advisory services, with a strong regional focus on the Western Balkans and broader relevance for the CEE context.
The Manual is structured around five key modules:
Sustainable soil management
Proper water use and climate adaptation measures in agriculture
Climate-resilient crop production
Livestock adaptation
Economic assessment of climate adaptation measures
For the CLP CEE community, the sections on soil and water management are particularly relevant. They address practical adaptation measures that can help reduce drought impacts, improve water-use efficiency, protect soil functions, and support more resilient agricultural systems. These include better irrigation scheduling, water-saving practices, improved soil organic matter management, erosion control, mulching, conservation practices, and other measures that connect directly with drought preparedness and sustainable land management.
The regional character of the Manual is also important. It reflects the specific agro-climatic, institutional and advisory-service context of the Western Balkans, making it easier to use in trainings, policy dialogue, farmer support and capacity-building activities across the region.
