I am thrilled to be sending our first newsletter. I hope each month to share the Backpack Farm team's accomplishments, challenges and personal stories of East Africa's smallest, green farmers. As we wait for the rainy season to begin in March, the team continues to expand its Kenya and South Sudan operations. We will be making a number of exciting announcements over the next three months.
Please CONTACT US with your feedback, ideas and potential collaboration to share the power of farming and food to impact the lives of communities in East Africa in economic, social and ecological domains.
Rachel
MD & Chief Catalyst (aka Crazy Person)
Franchise Distribution & Training Farm Network Launches in Kenya
We have officially launched our franchise network of distribution and training farms at 7 sites in Kenya. Each site offers smallholder farmers training on our unique, fusion farming program and drip irrigation kits but also offers more than 40 core capacity building classes based in "green" methodologies and traditional farming practices. Classes include bed preparation, crop rotation, drought & water management, rainwater harvesting, composting and the list goes on!
The training farm in Wote, situated in the middle of a glorious mango plantation was planted with local beans (kunde), green peppers, tomatoes and water melons supporting farmers supplying both local and export value chains. Our program partner is BISEP, a well respected, local NGO working with local farmers for more than 7 years.
Our goal is to install 20 training farms by the end of 2011. We are always on the hunt for new partner organizations committed to the power of farming and food!
The "Event" Receiving UNEP SEED AWARD!
We received our UNEP UNDP SEED Award on the last night of the UNEP Global Environment Summit naming us as one of the world's leading eco-friendly social enterprises. We were joined by hundreds of UNEP delegates and commercial social enterprise from every corner of the globe. Guest speakers included Germany's Ambassador to Kenya, Head of UNEP Achim Steiner and European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Poto?nik. Two of Backpack Farm's partners also joined me (Lachlan Agriculture & Sandstorm Kenya). We didn't know what to expect and am so grateful we not only showered but weren't wearing jeans and flip flops.
I want to personally thank the German Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen who hosted the event! What a beautiful night and was honored to be included among the other 6 winners from Kenya.
