The Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIEND) takes a holistic approach in its efforts to improve quality of life in Fiji, combining social, economic, and health resources to help underserved communities overcome poverty. Recently, the nonprofit funded an Organic Study Tour to India for the eight Fijian farmers who received the FRIEND Grow Star Award. The commendation recognized farmers from Viti Levu and Vanua Levu for agricultural best practices and allowed the group to travel to India to learn about the nation’s innovative agricultural strategies. During the tour, the group visited several organic farms and food production facilities in India’s Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh regions. The farmers acquired firsthand knowledge of agricultural interventions such as organic insecticides, fungicides, and compost, as well as strategies for water harvesting. Upon returning home, they were able to share their knowledge of techniques for collecting rain water and improving water tables with the creation of ponds, in addition to methods of rejuvenating barren farmland with organic manure.
The Grow Star Awards program that facilitated the Organic Study Tour is the result of 2.8 million euros of funding from the European Union (EU). In 2012, the EU presented FRIEND with significant resources to improve Fiji’s farming communities through agricultural projects and education. Comments are closed.
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About David Pflieger
David Pflieger - Senior Airline Executive
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