Last week the farmers started their first course in a forty hour intensive organic farming training course. The farmers are by default farming organic, but they do not understand the intrinsic value of such practices...yet! To date many have used cow manure to fertilizer their crops but not believing it was as good as the blue stuff that comes in a bag. They understand that they need to control the pests but questioned if there was another way to a chemical that makes their skin peal off (no, I'm not kidding!) when they administer it through a pump spray can on their backs.With the farmers' interest in learning new (and cheap!!) ways of farming, our on the ground partnership with Green Dreams Ltd and through the financial sponsorship of MamaHope, Rural Development Connections is facilitating organic trainings to teach the farmers valuable knowledge. Modules include What does organic mean?, Why is organic produce worth more money?, How do I farm organically?, How do I compost and what are the benefits?, and How to cultivate earthworms and why.
This is the beginning of having the farms certified organic by the East African Organic Association, which will in turn not only provide lasting environmental affects on the land, but allow the farmers to sell the produce at 25-100% premiums in comparison to "regular" produce.
We are on the road to self-sustainability!
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