Logo Haik TVET College is a public institution which is mandated to provide different skills based training for youth and women. Agriculture is one of the training sectors, and the College has an organic vegetable gardening site in its compound which is used for practical learning sessions during training. Young farmers and extension agents get training in the college.
In 2022, PAN Ethiopia collaborated with the College to expand the vegetable production plots to a full-fledged learning, information exchange and production site. The main topics covered in the FLS include: a) production organic soil health management input – conventional compost, Vermicompost, vermiwash; b) plant protection methods for organic vegetable growers, preparation of local recipes for pest and disease management, c) gardening tips for women and youth for urban agriculture, and (d) beekeeping and poultry, which will be integrated with the vegetable production.
With its composting and vegetable production units well set up, it now hosts hundreds of smallholder farmers from the surrounding farming villages who are involved in ecological organic farming. Specifically, smallholder farmers, youth and organized women groups are engaged in agroecology-based vegetables production. Women self-help groups are producing vegetables in their small plots used for home consumption and occasionally for the market, when surplus is produced, including to the college staff. In 2023, a total of 2.2 metric tons of nine different vegetables were produced organically and sold to the staff members. The field learning site also sells compost and vermicompost to farmers and urban agriculture practitioners.
In collaboration with the local agriculture office and NGOs working in agroecology, the unit hosted a number of training and exchange visit events. It is serving as a training center for farmers coming from three districts – Tehuledere, Ambassel and Worebabo. Currently, the College recruited 210 women who are taking training on agroecology. These women will set up their own small and microenterprise to be engaged in organic vegetables production.
The college has a total of 82 staff members (30 women, 52 men) who are involved in vegetable production and consumption.
