Teacher Training College assist farmers to boost production, Chimoio

The ADPP Teacher Training College in Chimoio is boosting agricultural production and strengthening the rural families economy through the Farmers Club projects.

The Farmers Club project is being implemented by ADPP Teacher Training Colleges in Mozambique, working in collaboration with communal farmers to improve agricultural production. The Farmers Club programme is supported by USDA and Planet Aid Inc and is aimed at improving the farming knowledge for the communal farmers to increase production, strengthen food security and generate family incomes. ADPP in Mozambique is a member of the Federation for Associations connected to the International Humana People to People Movement, involved in international cooperation and development.

There are 10 Farmers Clubs in Macossa, Barue, Sussundenga, Chimoio, Gondola and Manica districts in Chimoio Province. The Farmers Club are run by graduate teachers and students in their 11 months teaching practice from the ADPP Teacher Training College in Chimoio who are working as rural primary school teachers in these districts. Each farmers club has 30-55 members and one teacher is responsible for giving courses, practical demonstrations and to assist the communal farmers. The teachers received bicycles to reach all the farmers in the operation area of each Farmers Club.

The Farmers clubs have grown crops, which they are harvesting and selling now. For example teacher Horacio from Sanguene sold crops worth 150,000,00Mt and has supplied some vegetables to the schools and to some local activities. Pedro Requerai from Messica sold vegetables worth 130.000.00Mt. Jose Pacanate from Macossa and Simao Chanessa from Nhamuwale in Barue district have sold their produce and some of the products have been consumed in the schools.

All the Farmers Club has had 15-18 courses. Courses are theoretical lessons and demonstration carried out by the teachers on Saturdays. The practical lessons are carried out continuously since the teachers can be called anytime to assist the farmers. The Farmers Clubs have demonstration plots at the local school were the teacher responsible for the club is stationed. The farmers practice skills learned during courses in the demonstration plots and it is a model for the farmers in the Farmers Club. The produce from the demonstration gardens is used for supplying the schools, orphans and the prisons.

The farmers have started harvesting crops from their own fields, generating income from selling their products and consumption of the products in their homes. This will go a long way in securing good farming techniques, increased food production, income generation and in reducing poverty.

To read more about Humana People to People visit the website www.humana.org