Online agricultural development course inspires students ahead of Harper Adams University course this summer

Online agricultural development course inspires students ahead of Harper Adams University course this summer

Twenty-eight lead farmers and field officers from developing countries are taking part in a six-week online course developed by the Marshal Papworth Fund, Harper Adams University, and their charity partners this winter, in preparation for attending the Fund’s 10-week short course at the University this summer.

The participants include students from nine countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia). The 10-week short course at Harper Adams University welcomes students nominated by the Fund’s charity partners, who are on the ground in the countries and therefore able to ensure students that can benefit the most, both personally and in their capacity to help educate their home communities, take part. These charities are ADRA Ghana, Hands Around the World, Neno Macadamia Trust, Ripple Effect, Self Help Africa, The Leprosy Mission and Tree Aid.

One of those taking part in the online course is Isaac Ogutu, a Farm Systems and Sustainability Officer with Ripple Effect in Kenya. Isaac said: “It has been a very good six weeks of building my capacity as far as sustainable farming is concerned. My regards to all who planned for this course as they are enriching for modern day agriculture.”

Isaac continued: “The Marshal Papworth online course came with a lot of learning as it was touching on most areas that we interact with day-to-day training farmers here in Kenya. It introduced a new thinking where there is need to keep refreshing the knowledge base as new technology is bringing about new farming methods.”

Edmore Mashatise, Lecturer in Sub-Saharan and Tropical Agriculture and leader of the Marshal Papworth Fund course at Harper Adams University, explains what the course will entail. “At Harper Adams University, we are once again thrilled to be hosting the second cohort of the Marshal Papworth online course as part of our preparations for the 10-week residential short course in sustainable agriculture in the summer. So far, the assessment work that has been submitted by the students is of very high quality, which gives us great confidence of the calibre of participants we are looking forward to welcoming to Harper Adams University in the summer.”

Sandra Lauridsen, co-ordinator of the Fund, said: “The online element to our sustainable agriculture short course was a real success when we launched it in 2022, and we know it will enable our students to really hit the ground running at Harper Adams University this summer, and therefore have a more meaningful experience and impact more lives on the return to their countries.”

The Marshal Papworth Fund, an agricultural development charity managed by the East of England Agricultural Society, provides scholarships for students from developing countries, including year-long Masters scholarships to leading UK agricultural universities and colleges, and their bespoke 10-week short course, developed with Harper Adams University.

Online agricultural development course inspires students ahead of Harper Adams University course this summer

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