Hydroponics Training About to Commence in Gemanafushi

CHOCO is preparing to start the first major program for this year on August 1st. After a silent first half of the year, CHOCO is coming big with a mega project. A total of 100 participants are targeted to be trained in the area of hydroponic agriculture.

CHOCO is scheduling the first program of the project to be run in G.A. Gemanafushi on August 1st, 2010. Two more sequential programs will be run in G.Dh. Thinadhoo and another island from G.Dh. atoll in the near future. The program is funded by Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) of the Maldives. The agreement was signed in October 2009, but after long delays in obtaining funding, the funds were eventually finalized in July 2010.

The program will be taught by Mr. Ibrahim Shiyam, a qualified trainer who was trained at H.A Hanimaadhoo hydroponics plant of Ministry of Agriculture, on an initiative by CHOCO. He has the license to teach hydroponics.

Training will be a mix of theoretical materials with regard to general agriculture and hydroponics, and practical assignments of building a system of hydroponics. Classroom materials will cover topics ranging from general agricultural techniques, common plant diseases and prevention and necessary knowledge to start a hydroponics system. The practical assignment will involve participants in the development of the hydroponics system or a part of it.

CHOCO is adamant that the program will be beneficial to the participants, as a new market has been just opened since the arrival of tourism into the region; and hence farmers and growers of various agricultural products will be in a new founded demand.