Dear CoVE CSA Friends,
I'm happy to share the progress from our intensive 8-week training program, which has been a crucial step in preparing our TVET college staff to lead as CoVE hub facilitators.
Hans Nijhoff from Maastricht School of Management sends his warm regards. This training has empowered our staff to champion climate- and water-smart practices in horticulture. Colleges focused on creating robust links with local farmers and agribusinesses, selecting value chains like tomatoes, green peppers, and dry grapes for raisins, in line with their expertise.
Leveraging insights from our 2022 research involving in-depth farmer interviews, the training has equipped our CoVE hubs at each TVET to address these challenges with localized solutions. This approach aims to transform each hub into a farmer-centric cluster, tailored to regional needs. Our staff and students are now engaging in real-world climate-smart farming, gearing up to produce skilled graduates in this vital area.
Following our successful Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions, further guidance will come from agricultural expert Francois Lategan of Mendelu University in December 2023. This coaching will focus on strategically engaging with farmers and stakeholders for practical hub implementation.
In January 2024, our staff will start visiting selected farmers and stakeholders to co-design the CoVE hub concept, inviting them to play active, leadership roles.
We're excitedly anticipating the CoVE hubs' launch in early March 2024 at our TVET training facilities. This milestone is expected to make a significant impact on local communities and the agricultural sector.
Thank you for your unwavering support as we progress towards a sustainable and resilient future in horticulture.
Warm Regards,
Hans Nijhoff, Senior Project Consultant, hans.nijhoff@maastrichtuniversity.nl
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