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| March 2024 |
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Dear ,
Thank you for reading our newest newsletter with an update on our activities in the first period of 2024!
We conducted a variety of training courses and study tours, tailored to meet the specific needs of different groups. Despite this busy period we continue developing our own expertise and skills: Engelie Beenen completed the ILO Train the Trainers program in cooperative management which is a valuable opportunity to enhance skills in facilitating learning within cooperative settings. Ad Merks visited the dairy and agri expo in Haryana, India. A few other colleagues went to the Fruit Logistica in Berlin to stay informed about global agricultural developments. Our new affiliated partner, Cedric van Oene, based in New York, completed successfully the Partnership Brokers training. Continuous engagement in such trainings and events ensures that our services remain highly relevant and effective for our clients.
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Supporting Moldova in establishing a Horticulture Office
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The Republic of Moldova aims to establish a public institution, the Horticulture Office, that will professionalize and accelerate the development of the horticulture sector. A delegation, including State Secretary Mr. Vasile Sarban from the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture and Food, as well as four leaders of the main horticulture associations and representatives from USAID, visited the Netherlands to gain inspiration and insight. HollandDoor organized and facilitated this visit in February 2024.
The implementation of the Moldovan Horticulture Office is already underway. This study tour was part of the Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA), implemented by Chemonics International in Moldova and funded by USAID. The program aims to promote a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the regional crisis caused by the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a focus on the wine industry and high-value agriculture.
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South African university farm manager gains knowledge on
water-saving techniques
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Hannes Lombard, a farm manager from North-West University in South Africa, recently completed a study tour in Jordan and the Netherlands. The university has a model farm in Mafikeng that showcases good practices for students and farmers in the region. One of the growing problems is the lack of water. Consequently, it is crucial to become more familiar with water-saving cultivation technologies and to learn about the most effective cultivation practices to optimize production.
To demonstrate feasible practices and gain knowledge about cultivation systems, we organized a combined tour to Jordan and the Netherlands. Hannes received training and observed important farm practices. The tailor-made program aimed to enhance understanding and knowledge of water-saving strategies, the differences in hydroponic technologies, cultivation practices, and modern improved agricultural techniques suitable for the North-West University region in South Africa.
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Turkish delegation visits Dutch cooperatives
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At the end of February, HollandDoor hosted a delegation from The Agricultural Credit Cooperatives of Turkey (TTKK) in the Netherlands. TTKK represents 850,000 members in Turkey from around 1,600 cooperatives across various sectors. Its aim is to enhance the positions of its members in the agricultural industry. They are currently implementing a program to train refugees in the agricultural sector. Additionally, they are also interested in exporting their products to the Netherlands.
During their visit, they expressed a keen interest in the Dutch agricultural sector, particularly in the operation of our cooperatives and the business climate. We enjoyed an engaging week filled with relevant visits and fruitful discussions on topics such as financing for our farmers, government support, and cooperative operations. It is worth noting that there are major discrepancies between the different forms of cooperation in the Netherlands. This also became clear during our conversations throughout the week, which provided valuable insights to both our visiting delegation and the receiving cooperatives in the Netherlands.
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Insightful study week for Indonesian master trainers
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The study week in March 2024 as part of Nuffic's Orange Knowledge Program, TMT+, was comprehensive and insightful, according to feedback received from eight master trainers at The Agricultural Vocational Education Development Center ( BBPPMPV Pertanian Cianjur) and Institute Pertanian Bogor (IPB). The study week covered a diverse range of topics that have been part of both online and offline training in recent months. This approach aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of various topics related to revitalizing vocational education in Indonesia.
Moving forward, it will be important to translate these lessons into material that can be used to train vocational teachers in Indonesia. This will be crucial for the program’s success in revitalizing vocational education in the country.
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Sustainable poultry sector in Sri Lanka
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For the past two years, Lisanne Oskam of HollandDoor has had the privilege of supervising the RVO Project "Sustainable Poultry Sector" in Sri Lanka, in partnership with Q-point. The project is focused on training extension workers with a particular emphasis on feeding, health, and advisory skills. Our experts from Loeks Feed, Vetworks and Trouw Nutrition conducted most of the training courses online.
This approach was very successful, thanks in part to the assistance of Janak K. Vidanarachchi from the University of Peradeniya, and our local cluster leaders. Their contributions were instrumental in ensuring that everything was arranged perfectly, including internet connections, group exercises, company visits, and participant guidance.
During our recent visit, the participants presented their completed advisory processes on a poultry farm (layer or broiler) over the past year. We were very impressed by the level of their presentations and the significant progress they have made.
This video provides an overview of the activities and training that the participants took part in.
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Creating employment in Ethiopia
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In some cases, physical training may not be possible due to safety concerns. But sometimes we offer blended training on purpose. This combines online and face-to-face training, often with the help of local trainers. In March 2024 , we participated in a tailor-made training (TMT) project at Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Education (ATVET) College in Ethiopia, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aimes to provide practical vocational training with a focus on creating employment opportunities for women and young people. HollandDoor is implementing this project in collaboration with Q-Point B.V., the Ethiopian Commercial Milk Producers Association, and Alage College. |
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