{"id":6234,"date":"2024-09-05T16:42:36","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T23:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mercyships.onpressidium.com\/?page_id=6234"},"modified":"2025-10-21T14:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T21:48:00","slug":"agriculture-training","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/en\/agriculture-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Agriculture Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"program-food-for-life PS2500\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/program-food-for-life-PS2500.jpg\" alt=\"program-food-for-life PS2500\" width=\"2500\" height=\"679\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h1>Agriculture Training<\/h1>\r\n<h2>&#8220;Good health starts with good nutrition&#8221;<\/h2>\r\n<p>Mercy Ships recognizes that people need more than just access to healthcare &#8211; they need access to food and nutrition. To help address these issues in Africa, Mercy Ships has been implementing Food for Life programs since 1997. Food for Life projects have been impacting lives and training people how to produce nutritional food and crops sustainably.<\/p>\r\n<p>Our projects help others discover significantly improved methods of food production and preparation &#8211; working with them to rebuild, restore and renew their lives, land, communities and nations through holistic, organic agricultural development.<\/p>\r\n<h4>The problem<\/h4>\r\n<p>Farming practices in much of Africa do more harm than good. Slash and burn, pesticides, herbicides and other methods lead to the production of poor harvests and deplete the soil&#8217;s nutrient levels, leaving behind infertile ground.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Statistics (source: World Hunger)<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>An estimated one in four people remain undernourished in sub-Saharan Africa; 239 million people are hungry (have insufficient access to food).<\/li>\r\n<li>Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least five million child deaths each year.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Agriculture\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Agriculture.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Agriculture\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Nutritional Agricultural Training Programs<\/h3>\r\n<h3>Bringing Hope and Healing<\/h3>\r\n<p>Food for Life projects work alongside the Africa Mercy&#8217;s deployment schedule, providing training and resources in the countries served by Mercy Ships. The Food for Life program focuses on providing train-the-trainers opportunities, increasing a country&#8217;s capacity to provide for their own people. Trainees are identified from local NGOs already working to improve agriculture in the host country. The project is offered in a two-phase approach during a ship deployment. The first phase consists of a 22-week course, and the second phase involves follow-up assistance as the trainees return to their respective NGO site to train others. Once trainers successfully complete the program, they are provided with seeds, tools and other resources so they can provide training to their friends and communities.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Perpetuating a Legacy<\/h4>\r\n<p>Through its history and experience, the Food for Life program has found that the most successful and long-lasting projects are the ones that have received support beyond the life of the project. Because of this, Mercy Ships is providing targeted, concerted follow-up activities developed specifically for each country.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Accomplishment<\/h4>\r\n<p>Since 2009, Mercy Ships has trained and updated the methods of over 390 nutritional agricultural trainers serving a number of well-established NGOs in Africa.<\/p>\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-auf-dem-feld-757x520-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-auf-dem-feld-757x520-1.jpg 757w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-auf-dem-feld-757x520-1-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-auf-dem-feld-757x520-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" alt=\"Food For Life development\" width=\"757\" height=\"520\" \/> <!-- Overlay Wrapper --> Mercy Ships Food for Life program works with local African agencies to help families and communities learn practical and natural food production skills to reduce malnutrition and increase food security. \u00a9 Mercy Ships <!-- Overlay Wrapper Closed --><\/figure>\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-feld-setzlinge-gruppe-757x520-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-feld-setzlinge-gruppe-757x520-1.jpg 757w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-feld-setzlinge-gruppe-757x520-1-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-feld-setzlinge-gruppe-757x520-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" alt=\"Food For Life program\" width=\"757\" height=\"520\" \/> <!-- Overlay Wrapper --> While the primary focus of Mercy Ships mission is to provide safe surgical care, understanding proper nutrition and how to maintain it is key to sustaining a healthy community. \u00a9 Mercy Ships <!-- Overlay Wrapper Closed --><\/figure>\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-teilnehmer-programm-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-1024x704.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-teilnehmer-programm-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-1024x704.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-teilnehmer-programm-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-teilnehmer-programm-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-teilnehmer-programm-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-teilnehmer-programm-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft.jpg 1135w\" alt=\"Food and Agriculture Program\" width=\"1024\" height=\"704\" \/> <!-- Overlay Wrapper --> Marie Louise Kantabadouno and two other graduates of the &#8216;Food for Life&#8217; course train women farmers in profitable food production techniques. \u00a9 Mercy Ships <!-- Overlay Wrapper Closed --><\/figure>\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/featured-image-wie-wir-helfen-nachhaltige-entwicklungshilfe-frauen-saat-ernte-landwirtschaft.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/featured-image-wie-wir-helfen-nachhaltige-entwicklungshilfe-frauen-saat-ernte-landwirtschaft.jpg 552w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/featured-image-wie-wir-helfen-nachhaltige-entwicklungshilfe-frauen-saat-ernte-landwirtschaft-300x259.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/featured-image-wie-wir-helfen-nachhaltige-entwicklungshilfe-frauen-saat-ernte-landwirtschaft-14x12.jpg 14w\" alt=\"Food For Life program\" width=\"552\" height=\"477\" \/> <!-- Overlay Wrapper --> Women farmers at work. Mercy Ships trains in sustainable agriculture to improve nutrition. \u00a9 Mercy Ships <!-- Overlay Wrapper Closed --><\/figure>\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-schule-schuelerin-schueler-unterricht-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-1024x704.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-schule-schuelerin-schueler-unterricht-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-1024x704.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-schule-schuelerin-schueler-unterricht-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-schule-schuelerin-schueler-unterricht-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-schule-schuelerin-schueler-unterricht-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/blog-bericht-food-for-life-schule-schuelerin-schueler-unterricht-ernaehrung-landwirtschaft.jpg 1135w\" alt=\"Nutrition lessons at school\" width=\"1024\" height=\"704\" \/> <!-- Overlay Wrapper --> Marie Louise Kantabadouno and two other graduates of the &#8216;Food for Life&#8217; course, teach school children how important it is to eat healthy. Each child receives a bag of flour and is asked to promise to pass on what they have learned to their parents. \u00a9 Mercy Ships <!-- Overlay Wrapper Closed --><\/figure>\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-schulung-757x520-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-schulung-757x520-1.jpg 757w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-schulung-757x520-1-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-landwirtschaft-foodforlife-schulung-757x520-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" alt=\"Nutrition program\" width=\"757\" height=\"520\" \/> <!-- Overlay Wrapper --> Sharing knowledge and training multipliers is the goal of the Mercy Ships program. \u00a9 Mercy Ships <!-- Overlay Wrapper Closed --><\/figure>\r\n<!-- pagination -->\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zMsPQdVXCG8?si=IOdTTnpfaB3g5pWW\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8XW196v7XGQ?si=UthBJseU0z1skInA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<h2>Learn more about our medical response<\/h2>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-gen-cercle_Woman_B\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-gen-cercle_Woman_B.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-gen-cercle_Woman_B\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Women&#8217;s Health<\/h3>\r\n<p>Support and medical care is provided for women who have suffered childbirth injuries. We provide extremely specialized surgery, continuing the recovery process through education and social activities.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/womens-health\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_MaxFax\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ms-icon-med-cercle_MaxFax.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_MaxFax\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Maxillofacial Surgery<\/h3>\r\n<p>Through corrective and reconstructive maxillofacial surgeries, our surgeons relieve deformities caused by physical conditions such as tumours, cleft lip, cleft palate and noma.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/maxillofacial-surgery\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Recon_Plast\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Recon_Plast.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Recon_Plast\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Plastic Reconstructive Surgery<\/h3>\r\n<p>Birth defects, burns and illness often cause deformities we correct through surgeries; including burn-scar contractures, benign tumours, chronic ulcers, combined fingers and many others.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/plastic-reconstructive-surgery\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Ortho\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Ortho.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Ortho\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Orthopaedic Program<\/h3>\r\n<p>Mercy Ships trains local surgeons in Ponseti casting, the &#8220;universal standard&#8221; in non-invasive clubfoot correction, and provides free surgical intervention for musculoskeletal conditions, neglected orthopedic trauma and joint diseases.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/orthopaedic-program\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Palliative_Care\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Palliative_Care.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Palliative_Care\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Palliative Care<\/h3>\r\n<p>Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the difficulties associated with life-threatening illness.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/palliative-care\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Surgical_Tools\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Surgical_Tools.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Surgical_Tools\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>General Surgery<\/h3>\r\n<p>Our surgeons reduce the effects of neglected trauma, disease and congenital conditions by providing general surgeries for conditions such as hernias and goiters.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/general-surgery\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Dental\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Dental.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Dental\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Dental \/ Oral Health<\/h3>\r\n<p>Mercy Ships aims to prevent and reduce the effects of a lack of oral healthcare by providing dental treatment and dental hygiene education.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/oral-health\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Eyes\" src=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ms-icon-med-cercle_Eyes.svg\" alt=\"ms-icon-med-cercle_Eyes\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Eye Care<\/h3>\r\n<p>Addresses surgical and medical eye needs in environments where preventable blindness is widespread. The primary emphasis is to reduce blindness as a result of cataracts.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mercyships.ca\/eye-care\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"> Learn More <\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Agriculture Training &#8220;Good health starts with good nutrition&#8221; Mercy Ships recognizes that people need more than just access to healthcare [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6240,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Mercy Ships has been implementing Food for Life projects since 1997. 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