The University of Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s successful farmer-training program, , is the only project in the state to be awarded a from the U.S. Department of Agriculture¡¯s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA
The $600,000 grant will support education, mentoring and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers. The primary goal is to improve success through projects that provide the knowledge, skills and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations, and enhance their sustainability.
“We are so grateful to USDA-NIFA for supporting our program,” said GoFarm Â鶹´«Ã½ Director Janel Yamamoto. “This investment will help to develop more sustainable farmers in Â鶹´«Ã½, increase our local food supply, and grow our next generation of farmers.”
GoFarm Â鶹´«Ã½, a collaborative effort involving UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s (CTAHR), and UH¡¯s Agribusiness Incubator Program, provides a comprehensive and practical production and business training program, and connects aspiring farmers with CTAHR experts, existing farmers and the local agriculture community. There are six training sites statewide that support farmers and individuals who want to establish businesses in the agricultural industry.
GoFarm Â鶹´«Ã½ has been addressing the issue of food security long before the COVID-19 health crisis. Since 2012, it has trained more than 370 aspiring farmers, helping to reduce Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s dependence on imported food and increase food sustainability.
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