News

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture is currently leading one of the largest international development projects ever awarded to a Canadian university.

In Ethiopia, a country where 80-85 per cent of the country’s population is employed in agriculture, but whose population still struggles with food insecurity and poverty, Dalhousie experts are supporting Ethiopian experts in reshaping agricultural education — improving production, strengthening communities and helping the country not just survive, but thrive in the 21st century global food economy.

Agricultural Transformation Through Stronger Vocational Education project works with four Agricultural colleges in Ethiopia to become reputable providers of modular certificate training as well as customized short-course trainings that meet the unique needs of farmers, rural youth, agri-industry and broader rural communities. The ultimate goal of the project is to “Increase the supply of male and female graduates from agricultural technical and vocational education and training (ATVET) institutions who have the necessary skills and knowledge required by the labour market to develop the commercial Agriculture sector in Ethiopia.”

With a similar goal of graduating competent and skilled graduates that meets the need of the labour market including entrepreneurship and business minded graduates, the Uganda Skills Development Project (USDP) is a three-year project working with the Bukalasa Agricultural College in Uganda. The Faculty of Agriculture has been in-country for almost a year and have achieved some pretty exciting goals.

Join us for further discussion on how we are contributing to agricultural reform and food security in East Africa and what community connections you have to international development.

The Truro Ten Thousand Villages Festival Sale is pleased to host this evening event as part of our spring sale, May 3 and 4^th at St Andrews United Church, Truro. Ultimately our goals are similar; to support families and communities to have the capacity to earn adequate incomes to be able to live healthy productive lives.

At a Glance:

Reshaping Agriculture Education Across East Africa
Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University

Friday May 3, 7:00 p.m

St. Andrews United Church

Ten Thousand Villages
Fair Trade Festival Sale

Friday May 3, 10 AM – 9 PM
Saturday May 4, 10 AM- 5 PM

St Andrews United Church, Kings St Truro

Contact: Brenda Leenders leenders@eastlink.ca 902 893 4197