Education
The training and education received by growers and their families empowers them to rise from subsistence living and achieve a sustainable income within 3-5 years. Growers First has developed a proven track record for creating a sustainable, growing revenue stream which improves the quality of life for poor rural farmers. Growers First pursues educational programs in three main areas:
- Commodities Value Training – understanding the desires of the market and their place in the value chain
- Life skills Training – gaining core abilities necessary for improving quality of life
- Primary education support – providing basic educational tools and resources and creating access to foundational reading, writing and math teachings.
Commodities Value Training
Most commodities have varying values depending on size and quality. Most growers are unaware of how much impact this can have on their earnings. Growers First provides agronomists to train growers on how to maximize the value of their crops.
Growing crops in shade vs. direct sunlight, watering amount and frequency, fertilizing practices and pruning techniques all combine with soil and geographic conditions to affect the size and taste of the crops. Agronomists can determine the specific methodologies for achieving the best tasting/ highest value crops for a given area.
By conforming to the methodologies which produces maximum crop value, growers can achieve the highest monetary return on their efforts.
Life Skills Training
Often, in the remote areas where growers work, some of the basic skills that are taken for granted in more developed countries have never been taught. Through teaching aids and pastoral care, Growers First provides training to assist in the life skills as defined by the World Health Organization:
- Decision-making
- Problem solving/ critical thinking
- Effective communication
Because many of the growers live a day-to-day subsistence life, their decisions have been based largely on survival. As they become part of a social enterprise their new levels of social and economic interaction change. Also, with a personal cash flow, they can face the practical need for money management, budgeting and making buying decisions perhaps for the first time. Growers First helps address these issues.
Primary Education Support
Growers First believes that more educated children will grow up to become more significant contributors to their families and the communities they live in. In its efforts toward sustainability a focus on education affects a holistic improvement in the quality of life for the grower and his family.
Toward that end, Growers First provides support and teaching aids to better equip village children in their educational development. With access to better primary educational tools, the children have an increased potential for additional education and training which can lead to improved job opportunities and contribution to their communities.
