Given that nearly 90% of the food available in Hawai‘i is imported, and the number of farms in the state and across the U.S. is declining while the average age of farmers is increasing, The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program is dedicated to training new farming families on Hawai‘i Island and inspiring island youth to consider careers in agriculture.
By motivating and training the next generation of farmers, these programs seek to increase local food production, decrease dependency on imports, diversify Hawai‘i Island’s rural economy, create jobs, and move Hawai‘i toward greater food self-reliance.
The Kohala Center created the Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program in 2012 with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research & Development. Through partnerships with several local government agencies and academic institutions, the program has recruited, trained, and supported more than 150 new farmers in the Hāmākua region of Hawai‘i Island to date.
Our intensive ten-month educational program provides 188 hours of classroom training, workshops, on-farm instruction, field trips to diverse farms and ranches, and online materials. University of Hawai‘i researchers, extension agents, and other agricultural experts will cover subjects such as soil fertility management, plant nutrition, livestock production, composting and cover cropping, pest management, marketing, business planning, financing, and more.
Upon successful completion of the program, our staff can assist you in applying for farm leases and capital to scale production, marketing, and distribution of your crops.
Other Farmer Training Programs on Hawai‘i Island
GoFarm Hawai‘i
The University of Hawai‘i GoFarm Hawai‘i program is designed to increase the number of local agricultural producers by offering those with an interest in agriculture a combination of knowledge, experience, and support to assist them in becoming viable production growers, and accomplish this in a manner that encourages sustainability. GoFarm Hawai‘i focuses on providing practical experience and knowledge for those seeking to farm commercially. Participants will practice growing their own crops on program land.
https://gofarmhawaii.org/gofarm-training-program
https://gofarmhawaii.org/calendar/hawaii-island
Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture
The Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture (HIP Agriculture) is a conscious movement of inspired individuals living a model of sustainability through direct engagement with the earth and service to youth and communities. Located in North Kohala, HIP Agriculture is a growing community that cultivates a diverse collection of Polynesian crops and operates as an educational site offering sustainable agriculture courses, youth programming, community workshops and events. Through farming and hands-on education HIP Agriculture is pioneering a new paradigm of conscious agriculture that honors indigenous wisdom, food sovereignty, and the transformational power of returning to the land.
https://hipagriculture.org