Funded by a three-year grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the National Women in Agriculture Association (NWIAA) Waco Chapter is training 30 people to become knowledgeable and well-resourced farmers. Through networking with Prairie View A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS) Program Assistant Chandra Adams, this group, and members of the Learning Important Farming Training Skills (LIFT) Project visited the campus on Friday, February 18, to tour the International Goat Research Center, the farm & ranch, and greenhouses to learn more about innovative agriculture at a university level from CAHS’ research scientists.

“One of our goals was to be able to connect with researchers in agriculture and possibly partner with our land and ideas and their research to continue producing great products for the community,” said Chisa Brigham, the LIFT Project program manager.

The group spoke with Ming Gao, Ph.D., Alfred Parks, Ph.D., CAHS Dean Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D., Richard Griffin, Ph.D., and Aruna Weerasooriya, Ph.D., about their respective specialties. Each researcher relayed the progress he is making with his produce and plants and offered valuable tips for the farmers just beginning their careers.

“We want beginning farmers to see where institutes are still making agriculture vibrant in the agricultural field,” said Kay Bell, the Texas NWIAA Chairwoman. “We want to have them say, ‘Yes this is it. I am going to be consistent and keep agriculture in my future.’”

Both the scientists and Dean D’Souza reiterated their commitment to helping farmers in the community prosper and hope to keep the partnership alive.

“I just appreciate being among the experts who do the testing and the research and see what they try to grow on a larger scale,” Brigham says. “I just hope this continues; this is a three-year program, so I hope we can come back and do some more.”

The LIFT Project meets monthly also plans on touring more urban farms in their communities.

By: Pascale Mondesir
CAHS, Communications Specialist II
(936) 261-5155