On our farm, we have cows which we keep for dairy production. We use the cream on bread and in porridge. The cows help us get manure for planting which increases our production. We also have chicken for meat and egg production, since they are very rich in protein. We also keep geese for meat and eggs and sometimes for protection. We have 3 dogs for protection, and a cat, Maxi.

We have planted bananas; we use the stalks as livestock feed for cows, the bananas themselves we eat. We have avocado trees, napier grass which we feed to our dairy cows, and ornamental plants and trees.

At the centre, I have learned techniques for growing different types of crops: tomatoes, cabbages, how to space different crops, plant depth, plant preparation, how to control pests, infestation using pesticides. We have also learned how to keep different livestock, like poultry.

We have started a poultry club. We want to do egg production as a group. It’s better to sell eggs as a group because it helps you learn from other people. Profits are shared and the labor and costs are less for each person. You can get better prices because you can send the eggs to a place where there is a better market rather than being alone with only a few eggs to sell.

I have also learned to use computers, email, Facebook, how to type.

I have learned how to prepare compost at your farm using locally available material. I’ve changed how I farm because most of the fertilizers we use now are compost manure instead of synthetic chemicals. Organic fertilizer doesn’t affect the environment or the characteristics of the soil. And it’s cheap to make. I especially notice that when you use the compost manure the crops grow faster, especially vegetables like kale and cabbage.

In 5 years I see myself being a successful entrepreneurial dairy farmer from the skills learned from the centre and other relevant places. I’ve learned several ways to control diseases and good management practices in dairy, like selection of breeds and how to get good breeds. I plan on being a specialist in dairy production.

I hope that the centre expands to help many of our community members gain knowledge on agriculture production and how to produce food and be self-sufficient. I hope it can provide basic education and expand basic amenities like access to clean water and a health center. I also hope that this centre will help the community strengthen its relationship between us and the Canadian people. We shall have a strong friendship – maybe some of us will come from this place and visit there!