Source: UNIVERSITY OF GUAM UOG STATION submitted to
PROMOTING BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GUAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1023779
Grant No.
2020-49400-32437
Cumulative Award Amt.
$449,207.00
Proposal No.
2020-04867
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2020
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2024
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[BFRDA]- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Standard
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GUAM UOG STATION
(N/A)
MANGILAO,GU 96913
Performing Department
CNAS
Non Technical Summary
with emphasis on hands-on learning activities in real farming and marketing situationsapprenticeship and training to trainers programs will be organized.We aim to build strong bases for sustainable farmer coalitions based on inclusiveness, collaboration, and fairness.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90374103020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
7410 - General technology;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
Identify, reach, and retain beginning farmers.Provide training on developing, sustaining, and improving farming systems suitable to the ecological and socio-economic conditions of Guam with emphasis on hands-on learning activities in real farming and marketing situations. Project topics will include but not to be limited to cover crops, composting, integrated pest management, intercropping, raised bed production, windbreaks, agroforestry practices, soil conservation, aquaponics systems, beekeeping, bookkeeping, infrastructure design, and marketing.Foster wide interactions among stakeholders in the agriculture sector and related areas in Guam engaging beginning farmers to develop sustainable approaches for production, branding, and marketing
Project Methods
Objective 1Research and update existing information on existing and potential farmersRecruit 50 beginning farmers for the projectConduct focus groups to determine farmers expectations, goals, and concernsOrganize workshops on topics relevant to Guam such as: Potentials and limitations for farming, access to land, invasive species threatening farming systems and natural resources, local produce markets and foodshedsObjective 2Conduct introductory and advance trainings on crop production, sustainable farming practices, beekeeping, and other topicsOffer paid apprenticeship opportunities on farmsTrain trainers selected from the beginning farmers group iii.Objective 3Facilitate farmer access to USFA programs (EQIP, VAPG), loans, and other assistanceOrganize a consulting service system for specific activities like honeybee productionPromote trained farmers as mentors in their communities

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:This projects target farmers in Guam who are new in farming or want to enter farming, students of different levels, extension agents, personnel of goverment agencies, and other stakeholders. Changes/Problems:Guam was hit by category-4 typhoon Mawar in May 2023. It caused ample damaged on farms and disrupts power and other services which took months to be restored in some areas. Farmes within the project were affected and they will receive additional assistance from the project. An indirect consequence has been the disruption of supply chains and price increases that make difficult to obtain farming inputs and other items in Guam. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has placed 12 paid interns in farms with no-education requirement requested. Internships were for six months but some interns requested to stay for longer periods. Several interns obtained positions in farming and related areas after completing the internships. In addtion, informal training to interested people were provided at the farms participating in the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project generated tecnhical reports and fact sheets (Please see above) as well as press releases and participation in radio programs and other outlets. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project will last until August 2024 through a no-cost extension. Additional workshops are planned on promising fruit trees for Guam, marketing, bookeeping, and other topics. Assistance to farmers will continue.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? For objetive 1. More beggining farmers were attracted to the project reaching a total of about 20 farmers directly involved on agriculture and related areas. In addition, 150 people attended project workshops. For objective 2. Workshops were offered on drip irrigation, honey harvesting, pepper production, mango grafting, advanced grafting, and papaya cultivation. In addition to the project coordinator, personnel of the Guam Department of Agriculture, University of Guam Cooperative Extension & Outreach, and collaborating farmers participated in the workshops representing an excellent collaborative effort. Topic selection for the workshops were based on stakeholder inputs. Farmers received technical assistance and inputs such as canopies, fertilizers, cinder blocks, compost, small equipment, and others. Two greenhouse-type (Screen house) of structures were provided to farmers. One directly beneffited veteran farmers. The program Farm to Table was an excellent parter within the project. For objective 3. Positive interactions and sinergies were created within the project. Two of them are notewhorty: the consolidation of the honey production sector in Guam and the promotion of cultivation of grafted trees of mango improved varieties which have a high value in Guam markets. The project provided inpetus for farmers to move forward with their enterprises after obtaining expertise, supplies, and other support.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Mango varieties at Ija Research and Education Center. 20 p.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Mango production guide for Guam. 16 p.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Papaya cultivation guide for small-scale production. 16 p.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Bevacqua, R. Drip irrigation components and layouts. Fact Sheet.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Mango propagation. Fact sheet.


Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience: This projects target farmers in Guam who are new in farming or want to enter farming, students of different levels, extension agents, personnel of goverment agencies, and other stakeholders. Changes/Problems: United States Department of Agriculture Guam was hit by category-4 typhoon Mawar in May 2023. It caused ample damaged on farms and disrupts power and other services which took months to be restored in some areas. Farmes within the project were affected and they will receive additional assistance from the project. An indirect consequence has been the disruption of supply chains and price increases that make difficult to obtain farming inputs and other items in Guam. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has placed 12 paid interns in farms with no-education requirement requested. Internships were for six months but some interns requested to stay for longer periods. Several interns obtained positions in farming and related areas after completing the internships. In addtion, informal training to interested people were provided at the farms participating in the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The project generated technical reports and fact sheets (Please see Products) as well as press releases and participation in radio programs and other outlets. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? For objective 1. More beggining farmers were attracted to the project reaching a total of about 20 farmers directly involved on agriculture and related areas. In addition, 150 people attended project workshops. For objective 2. Workshops were offered on drip irrigation, honey harvesting, pepper production, mango grafting, advanced grafting, and papaya cultivation. In addition to the project coordinator, personnel of the Guam Department of Agriculture, University of Guam Cooperative Extension & Outreach, and collaborating farmers participated in the workshops representing an excellent collaborative effort. Topic selection for the workshops were based on stakeholder inputs. Farmers received technical assistance and inputs such as canopies, fertilizers, cinder blocks, compost, small equipment, and others. Two greenhouse-type (Screen house) of structures were provided to farmers. One directly beneffited veteran farmers. The program Farm to Table was an excellent parter within the project. For objective 3. Positive interactions and synergies were created within the project. Two of them are noteworthy: the consolidation of the honey production sector in Guam and the promotion of cultivation of grafted trees of mango improved varieties which have a high value in Guam markets. The project provided impetus for farmers to move forward with their enterprises after obtaining expertise, supplies, and other support.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Mango varieties at Ija Research and Education Center. 20 p.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Mango production guide for Guam. 16 p.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Papaya cultivation guide for small-scale production. 16 p.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Bevacqua, R. Drip irrigation components and layouts. Fact Sheet.


Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The Beginner Farmer and Rancher Development project in Guam assists new farmers and people interested in joining farming. In addtion to reaching farmers intrested on traditional ways of agriculture, the project has successfully helped people doing beekeeping, a growing sector in Guam that generates exceptional honey and other products, flower production (inlcuding an all-women farm), and restoring genetically valuable fruit tree orchards using grafting and other techniques. Other stakeholders are also served like Americorp members, veterans, and general public. Changes/Problems:The Covid 19 pandemic posed changes to carrying on some activities but in general they were completed following social distance rules and others. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Some of the interns in the project were hired as field technicians and research assistants after completing their internships. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have prepared technical publication on breadfruit and mango cultivations as well as on beekeeping. Technical information on a variety of topics were communicated to more than 200 attendants to workshops and other meetings. Personnel of the University of Guam CE&O participated shating knowledge on home economics, nutrition, food conservation, and other topics. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The main goal is to continue working with farmers some of who are underserved to establish cohort to track their progress in farming. We will offer workshops on honey extraction, irrigation, papaya cultivation, small business development, and bookeeping. We will assit farmers to apply for NRCS EQUIP grants and others.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During FY 2022, five workshops were offered on soil management, banana cultivation, marketing, and use, beekeeping, hive assembly, and mango propagation with about 200 people attending. We also assist farmers technically and provide supplies such as seeds, compost, fish emulsion, canopy poles, harvest crates, canopy poles, shadecloth, manure, and two greenhouse-type structures. Data from a survey to 100 farmers were compiled and analyzed to determine farmers' challenges and expectations. We also placed several paid interns for six months in established farms. Some continued for another six months.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Bevacqua, R.F., Sayama, J.N., Ares, A. 2022. Mango cultivation guide for Guam. Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, Guam. 20 pages.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Bevacqua, R.F., Ares, A. 2022. Mango varieties at Ija Research and Extension Station. Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, Guam. 18 pages


Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers, growers, general public, students, members of community groups (Veteran, farmer, commodity associations) Changes/Problems:We have limited success in engaging cohorts of farmers in activities related to farm status assessment, marketing, and other topics. That can be related to cultural aspects, language barriers and lack of truth on government programs. Also, the Covid pandemic reduced the possibility of reach and involve farmers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Seven interns were placed in local farmers during six months each to obtain first hand experience on agriculture, aquaculture, and other topics. Some of the interns continued for additional six months. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project has been highly participatory disseminating information using a variety of means (workshops, technical publications, fliers, brochures, radio talks). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to engage more farmers focusing on topics such as networking, branding, and marketing about which there is a strong need among Guam beginner farmers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the second year of the project, more than 20 farmers were provided with technical assistance and supplies. Technical assistance encompassed topics such as soil conservation, fruit tree cultivation, crop management and beekeeping. Project associates assisted stakeholders to stock beehives provided by the project and some of them began to sell honey. Supplies givien to farmers included compost, chicken manure, fish emulsion, peat moss, canopy poles, shade cloth, and other. A greenhouse purchased in Hawaii was installed in one farm and another one was ordered. Workshops were held at the University of Guam Yigo Experimental Station on soil management, breadfruit (two workshops), bananas (two workshops), beekeeping (three workshops), mango cultivation (two workshops) and raising baby chicken. The workshops were led by research and extension faculty of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, and members of the Guam Beekeeping Association. More than 200 people attended the events and their evaluations were very positive. Information was provided to farmers on how to apply to bona-fide farmer status, NRCS EQUIP grants and other topics.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The project targets begginer farmers in Guam defined as those with 10 years or less of farming experience, and other stakeholders. Workshops were attended by commercial and subsistence farmers, hobbysts, students, community organizers, and others. Contacts were initiated to reach underserved farmers whith Limited English Proficience by contacting leaders of the Yapese and Paluan communities, and others. Changes/Problems:The Covid 19 pandemic restricted travel,workshop atttendance quotes, and interractions with farmers.We compliedwith guideliness by the federal government, GovGuam, and UOG. The last workshop took place outdoors. Contingency practices were implemented to reduce and remediate the challenges. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Five interns were placed in local farms and an aquaculture center. An structured program was developed to assist them in developing specifics skills and capacities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As this is not a research project, during the first year emphasis was on reaching organized and unrganized farmers to present the goals of the project and develop activities based on farmers' needs and expectations. Ancillary information about the workshop topics was provided to the attendants and other stakeholders using factsheets, booklets, and other materials. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A major focus during the second year fo the project will be to reach underserved farmers often of LEP condition. A project associate will be hired to lead the activities. Identyfing and engaging these farmers in Guam is challenging and would required considerable field scouting and development of community connections. The project associate will assist beginner farmers to achieve bona fide status at the Guam Department of Agriculture and apply for EQUIP and other funds available to them. One of the partners of the project, the UOG Pacific Small Business Development Center will assist beginner farms on business plan development, bookeeping, marketing, and other topics. There will be additional workshops on beekeeping and mango cultivation and use. Interns were placed in in 11-acre farming operation in the Talafofo River watershed.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? 1. A survey was conducted to determine the needs and expectacions of beginner farmers in Guam. The Northern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District assisted with design of the survey instrument and data gathering. One hundred ten farmers completed the survey. Other farming groups were contacted. 2. Six workshops were carried out at the University of Guam Yigo Experiment Station. The topics were beekeeping, raising days-old chickens, breadfruit cultivation and use (two sessions), soil management, and banana cultivation and use. A total of 107people attended the workshops and evaluations were very positive. Each workshop consisted in indoor presentations/discussions and outdoor activities such as beehive management, propagation of breadfruit and bananas, operation of chicken housesfor egg production, and soil characterization and composting. In addition, five paid interns were placed during six months in local farms and an aquaculture center to gain hands-on experience in farming practices. 3. Additional support was provided to beginner farmers to start new practices. For instance, the attendants to the beekeeping workshop were assisted by the project coordinator and a local beekeeping expert to stock their beehives with bees after the event.

    Publications