Vanmel Community Association participates in vegetable training

A group of young people who are members of Vanmel Community Association (VCA) were fortunate to participate in a vegetable training of Train of Trainers (TOT).

The training was facilitated by the Vegetable Specialist of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Heggar Molisa, with the assistance of Nursery Worker, Morry Watek.

DARD confirmed that the one-day training includes theory and practical sessions.

Vanmel Community Association (VCA) was established in 2010 to oversee the governance and needs of people in the community. Vanmel community consist of villages in the island of Pentecost namely Letor, Nokobujuka, Nokonbok, Onlap, Nokonkaop, Savat, Vanbok, Salevakal, Levaka, and Lewuk villages.

The island of Pentecost is well known for its massive kava production.

Improving the livelihood of these communities is one of the main focus of the association. The livelihood of the people depends entirely on agriculture.

Encouraging youth to invest in agriculture is essential therefore they need to acquire the technical information and skills in vegetable farming.

The Vanuatu Agriculture Sector Policy provides for this initiative as stated in chapter 2.1.7 ‘Increase the participation through the conduction of gender-based trainings for women, youths and vulnerable groups’ and in chapter 13.1.1 ‘Encourage and engage participation of women, youths, and vulnerable groups in all agriculture practices.

“This is a first ever vegetable training for these young people. The aim of the training is for these young people to return home and assist community members by organizing similar vegetable training,” said Mathias Bulewak, President of Vanmel Community Association.

Mr Bulewak said “the training was very important because the participants will bring the knowledge back to the community to teach other farmers to grow vegetables and also the information will assist them as youths to engage in backyard gardens.

The participants were provided with information materials on different types of vegetables, pest and disease and vegetable seeds.

The practical session includes the process of preserving seeds for the next planting season and planting of seedlings.

Most of the participants have expressed that the vegetable training was one of the first ever training they have attended. The information they received will greatly assist them when they return to Pentecost.

Photo supplied Caption:  Participants of the vegetable training TOT with Vegetable Officer, Heggar Molisa (first from right)

     

Author: 
Tensly Sumbe