Lui Students at the Agricultural School in Yei

Robin Denney wrote me this morning to tell me that the agricultural training school in Yei is now underway. Our diocese funded the attendance of two students from Lui, a man and a woman. Below is Robin's article on the subject along with her photos.

Training for Diocesan Agriculture Officers

By Robin Denney, ECS Agriculture Consultant

September 15, 2010

A three-month agriculture training program opened in early September, at the Crop Training Center in Yei.  ECS has 12 candidates participating in the training from 11 different dioceses across south Sudan.  Each of the candidates was selected by their bishop for their interest and experience in agriculture and their willingness to assist their diocese with agriculture programs.  All 12 will be returning to their diocese after the training, qualified to be agriculture extension agents.  They will work with their diocese as a diocesan agriculture officer, or as a trainer of pastors.   Each candidate has promised to commit at least 2 years to the service of the diocese, but we expect they will all stay for much longer.

The training covers a broad spectrum of agricultural topics, including pest control, planting methods, marketing, and much more.  The focus is on sustainable improved techniques for subsistence farmers.  The Crop Training Center is a well-respected institution in south Sudan that is subsidized by the government.

The tuition and transportation expenses for each of the trainees was provided by generous donors in the United States, both individuals and churches from the Diocese of Virginia, Diocese of Missouri, Diocese of Bethlehem, Diocese of Colorado, and the Central Visalia Rotary Club in California.

The candidates are excited about this training course.  Most of them have already begun, while a few are still on the way coming due to difficulties in transportation. 

This training was coordinated by the ECS Agriculture Department.  After the successful completion of this training program, the Agriculture Department will continue to roll out this training across all dioceses who are interested in participating.  We hope to create a network of ECS Agriculture Officers who can assist their dioceses in implementation of agriculture programs, and will be on the ground to do agriculture advising and workshops with the people.  With this added framework and expertise on the ground, we hope to expand the agricultural efforts of the dioceses, and the Church as a whole.

The goal of the ECS Agriculture Department is to support the Province of ECS in implementing projects for food security and income generation, and to support the individual dioceses of ECS with agriculture advising, training, and networking with potential donors.  Since its development early last year, the Agriculture Department has carried out diocesan visits to 23 dioceses, put on 13 workshops, and begun three pilot farm projects. 

For more information on ECS Agriculture contact Robin Denney at: redenney AT gmail.com