Young people lovingly build the furrows of hope in agriculture through FFS, in Equatorial Guinea
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Despite the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, and in Equatorial Guinea in particular, a group of 24 young Ecuadorians have come together to form a Farmers Field School (FFS) called "AMOR" (LOVE in Spanish) in the continental region of the country. For them, "AMOR" represents the principles of Love, fundamental to learning, organization and responsibility and mutual respect.
The "AMOR" Farmers Field School is the collaborative result of the technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Environment (MAGBOMA) in Equatorial Guinea through the technical cooperation project TCP-3702 "Farmer's Field Schools (FFS) to improve the development of agricultural production in Equatorial Guinea". This project aims to institutionalize the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach as an effective tool for inclusive learning and agricultural extension to ensure capacity building for smallholder farmers, rural development services and cooperative work.
With more than 30 training modules, "AMOR"'s FFS youth, composedof 16 men and 8 women have been cultivating various types of vegetables (tomato, pepper, lettuce, cucumber, eggplant and watermelon) for the consumption and marketing of surpluses. They have strengthened their production in the different stages of Mongom and fruit production in Nsork Nsom,thusgenerating additional income. The role and active participation of young women in production has also demonstrated the impact of good teamwork, announcing a vision of equality, unity and collective learning.
In a context where the economy and youth employment opportunities are suffering the consequences of COVID-19, the Farmer Field School methodology has also allowed farmers to find solutions with demand and the use of multiple approaches.
The recent interest of the Government of Equatorial Guinea in strengthening the capacities of technicians, institutions and producers in the field of rural extension, agricultural policies, the acquisition of knowledge for the effective and sustainable management of the agricultural value chain has also enabled work from this holistic and participatoryapproach.
The diligent enthusiasm of the young people of "AMOR” has spread to teachers and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Environment and new int-int groups are being formed. At this stage, a group of young students emerged from the agricultural vocational school of the city of Bata, eager to know the production of short cycle vegetables and fruit trees.