As the title indicates, this Newsletter identifies and describes some important new collaborative developments in agriculture development at Hope Africa University. Throughout my third visit to Burundi this year, I was very well-received and very well-treated by Rector Servilien NITUNGA and Vice-Rector Edouard NIYONGABO.
Hope Africa University wants Dr. John McCready and the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund (HMODF) to be directly involved and contribute to some new priority initiatives in collaborative agriculture development. Over time, the University hopes to develop the critical, collaborative Agriculture Outreach and Extension Program that could work with partners to have national reach and national impact on increasing agriculture productivity in Burundi.
With the knowledge and support of Rector Servilien NITUNGA, I am pleased to report that I had two very good meetings with the Burundi Free Methodist Church’s Executive Secretary, Rev. Evariste BIMENYIMANA. At the beginning of the first meeting, I explained that my purposes were to try to acquire the Church’s support and collaboration in the Enhancements to the Agriculture Program Internship (see below) and to invite Church representatives to join University representatives and Friends of Hope Africa University (Friends) in a Workshop to assess and consider improvements to the entire Agriculture Program (see more below).
Before discussing the Church’s involvement in the Internship and Workshop, Rev. Evariste stated emphatically that the Church expects the University and John McCready to work together on improving the Agriculture Program.
The improvements will include (1) ensuring the inclusion of practical training on more productive agriculture methods; (2) providing direct experience working with community farmers and community farming projects; and, (3) preparing and connecting students to local community farmers, local agriculture personnel, local community farming projects in the students’ home communes (especially, the Church and the HMODF’s agriculture development projects).
Rev. Evariste indicated that the Church is willing to support, collaborate and be involved in the Enhancements to the Agriculture Program Internship this year. As previously agreed by the Bishop of the Church and the President of Friends, local Church personnel will lead and supervise the students’ Internship activities in December when they are in their home communes. Likewise, Rev. Evariste indicated that Church representatives will participate in Workshop to consider improvements to the Agriculture Program.
Collaborative Enhancements to the Agriculture Program Internship
Collaborating with the Free Methodist Church of Burundi (the Church) and the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund (the HMODF), the new Rector is supporting the introduction of enhancements to Hope Africa University’s (the University) Agriculture Program Internship within this year; November 4th to December 20th. The enhancements will include the University providing presentations on the importance of agriculture and agriculture development in Burundi; the Church presenting on their agriculture development programs and leading field visits to selected sites and the HMODF presenting on our agriculture development projects and field visits. We will integrate the Church’s Training of Trainers program. In December, the students will return to their home communes and the Church will coordinate introductions, descriptions, field visits and connections to the agriculture development personnel and activities in their commune and nearby communes. This will include the personnel and activities of the Church, the HMODF agriculture development projects and other organizations’ agriculture personnel and projects. Since the Agriculture Program Graduates, especially, the students who were selected by the Church and received a full, two-year scholarship from Friends of Hope Africa University (Friends) are expected to become engaged in agriculture development activities in their home communes and, thereby, contribute to increases in agriculture production and better care of animals.
The Enhancements to the Internship will last for 7 weeks, starting on Monday, November 4th and run to at the least until Friday, December 20th.
- Presentations by Hope Africa University on Agriculture and Development
- Presentations by Free Methodist Church and Field Visits to Selected Community Farming Projects
- Training of Trainers Sessions by the Free Methodist Church
- Presentations by the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund
- Presentations and Field Visits by Foundations for Farming and Other Organizations
- Introductions to Agriculture Personnel and Field Visits to Community Farming Projects in the Students’ Home Communes, Supervised by Local Free Methodist Church Pastors and Agriculture Personnel
Assessment Workshop on Improving the University’s Agriculture Program
The University is undertaking an assessment of the Agriculture Program in order to determine the improvements that need to be made. The Rector and Vice-Rector of the University asked Dr. John McCready to help organize a Workshop with representatives of the University, the Free Methodist Church of Burundi and Friends of Hope Africa University in order acquire suggestions for improving the entire Agriculture Program. With representatives of the University, the Church and Friends, the Workshop will take place in January or early February of 2025.
Involving the Community at University’s Agriculture Locations
The University already has three agriculture sites that can be used for practical training of Agriculture Program students, practical training of community farmers and research on agriculture such as comparing different kinds of rice seed. One of the sites has rice fields. Another of the sites already has pigs and other animals will be acquired. A third site has farm land that is expected to be used for educating students and training community farmers. This location will eventually include a training centre. The Rector has asked Dr. McCready to develop ways by which the three sites can involve, train and support local community farmers.
Multi-Institute Collaboration Project on Increasing Agriculture Productivity
The project is a collaboration among Hope Africa University, University Lumiere (Light) de Bujumbura, Oklahoma State University and Tapestry International (Liaison and Overall Program Manager; led by Kent Wilkinson).
The Hope Africa University representatives are Director of Social Work and Community Development, Mme Susan Muchiri; Director of Medicine, Dr. Noel NIYONDIKO; Director of Research, Dr. Bosco BASHANGWA MPOZI; and, Senior Advisor on Development, Dr. John McCready. Initially, the project will focus on focus on the current state of agriculture within Burundi and the development of institutional capacity within the partnering universities and related institutions to address systemic issues plaguing the agricultural sector.
A basic problem-solving tool is being used to facilitate fact-based problem identification, root causes, implementable solutions and implementation plans. The basic steps are: situation description; gap identification; gap analysis; problem statement development; root cause identification; implementable solution development; and, implementation.
Pilot Project with Batwa Rice Farmers
Serious consideration is being given to helping one or two of the HMODF Batwa agriculture development projects acquire a rice field, improve their rice cultivation and animal husbandry practices. The University is expected to involve agriculture students and other students for educational, training and support purposes. The pilot project will integrate evaluation in order to determine the impact of the having land and receiving support services.
Please consider investing in collaborative agriculture development by making a donation, http://haleymccreadyfund.com/u-s-donations/.