HEPA (Human Ecology Practical Area) Farmer Field School (FFS) is a pioneering training dedicated to strengthen indigenous youth. HEPA FFS lies at the heart of the 6 inter-thematic networks action of Mekong Community Network Action for Ecological Trading (MECO-ECOTRA).
Overuse of resources and the lack of a caring attitude towards Human-Nature relationships in many sensitive watershed ecosystems have been the major causes leading to land desertification problems, gradual erosion of social traditions, and the losses of ecological biodiversity.
Result of young eco-farmers workshop in Simacai area on 12 -13th March 2014.
21/04/2014
The strategy of promoting network connections and developing activities of youth Eco-farmers in Mekong region clearly defined that alumni students and learning students in Farmer Field Schools (FFS) are key actors of the network
From the demand for facts and the need for evaluating efficiency after Eco-farming education in FFSs, on 12th to 13th March, 2014 the secretariat group of the eco-farming network of the Mekong region and Simacai Office together organized a workshop with the participation of alumni FFS students.
Divide into groups to discuss topics based on preferences
The workshop pointed out four main objectives:
- To grasp information and activities of students after graduation.
- To recognize the difficulties of implementing eco-farming activities at family, community and local level.
- To know how alumni students apply their knowledge and skills which were learned at FFS for their families and communities.
- To have solutions, orientations and action programs for the youth Eco-farmer network
Share between the alumni students in the field
Observing and sharing on the field
The workshop finished successfully. Youth eco-farmers in Simacai province proposed to continuously organize a meeting on 30th April 2014 at Simacai office. At the next meeting, participants will each present their farm designs and detailed activity plans.Leaders of the young Eco-farmer network have the responsibility to make the meeting plans and send the plans to the secretariat group and SPERI. In addition, young Eco-farmers agreed to build a regulation for network operations in the coming years.
Eco-farmers training program in FFSs under SPERI have been operating since 2006, that is eight years already. Many courses were organized and completed mainly by minority students from Vietnam and abroad. A lot of young eco-farmers go back to their communities and enjoy different works in their family, village and local areas. Many young eco-farmers develop their farms while others choose different jobs.
Source: Vang Sin Min (Leader of the secretariat group of MECO-ECOTRA)
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Sustainable Ecological Livelihood and Food Sovereignty 
