Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
This project proposal focuses on three priority areas of current training needs based on input received from the members of the SARE Advisory Council. The proposed professional development activities for 2023 - 2024 will compliment the accomplishments of previous years by providing outreach and training for all stakeholders.
One of the training objectives during the implementation period is to increase the trainees' level of knowledge and awareness regarding the available funding opportunities for producers and the steps involved in navigating the respective application processes. The second training objective will focus specifically on livestock producers. This focus indicates a major contrast in comparison to previous years' proposals when livestock farmers were not specifically targeted. Many farmers have limited knowledge regarding animal nutrition, feed supplements, and appropriate feed formulations for diverse types of livestock at various stages of growth and development.
The third objective of this proposal will target poultry producers who are in need of increased training regarding general production practices, sanitation, and food safety. The number of poultry in the territory has been steadily increasing during the past years. However, the local professional development program has not addressed the training needs in this sector in recent years. Furthermore, poultry producers are generally not aware of the pertinent federal and state guidelines.
The proposed professional development training activities will build upon prior years' work by promoting agricultural sustainability and addressing educational gaps among professional staff and producers. The target audience for the training events will be outreach staff and mentor farmers.
Project objectives from proposal:
The target audience for the USVI Professional Development Program for the 2023 - 2024 implementation period will be mentor farmers and agricultural outreach staff from state and federal agencies as well as members of pertinent non-government organizations. The training objectives will be as follows:
Objective 1. To increase the trainees' level of knowledge regarding available funding opportunities for producers and improve their application and navigating skills with respect to the application processes.
Objective 2. To increase the level of knowledge and improve management practices among livestock farmers regarding animal nutrition, feed supplements, and appropriate feed formulations for diverse types of livestock at various stages of growth and development.
Objective 3. To increase the level of knowledge and improve the management practices of poultry farmers regarding production, slaughtering, marketing, sanitation, and food safety. In addition, the objective of the training activities will be to increase the level of knowledge of poultry producers regarding the pertinent federal and state guidelines and standards for the sector.