Franciscan Brothers Adraa Agriculture College Offaka, Arua, Uganda 2016 PROSPECTUS

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1 Franciscan Brothers Adraa Agriculture College Offaka, Arua, Uganda 2016 PROSPECTUS a

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3 ADRAA AGRICULTURE COLLEGE Adraa Agriculture College (AAC) was founded in The purpose of the college is to educate and train people from rural communities in Uganda, South Sudan and North East Democratic Republic of Congo. The aim of this education and training is to improve capacities and capabilities so that rural people will be able to use available natural resources to achieve sustainable livelihoods for themselves, their families and their communities. The college is owned and managed by the Franciscan Brothers working in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Nebbi. LOCATION Adraa Agriculture College is situated in Adraa Parish, Offaka Sub-county, Arua District, West Nile. It is 15 kms from the Nebbi/Arua road, Nebbi side and 19 kms from Uleppi, from the Arua side. AAC FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES Philosophy - The philosophy of Adraa Agriculture College is underpinned by the reality that every person is a unique individual and each one has the right to an environment in which she/he can live life with dignity. This philosophy is founded on the gospel of Jesus Christ that inspires it to bring this good news in a practical way to all people, especially the poor. Based on the social teaching of the Catholic Church, AAC endeavours to serve people irrespective of their religion or ethnicity by focusing on human potential, natural resources and the environment as the foundation of economic and social activity. Goal - rural communities in which sustainable livelihoods enable people to live with dignity and in harmony with the environment and God. Vision a college of excellence in sustainable agriculture and rural development Mission - to provide practical education and training in sustainable agriculture and rural development to target communities. Mandate - to nurture people s capacities and capabilities to use available resources to develop sustainable livelihoods. Core values - equality of all; respect and care for the Earth; stewardship, spirit of excellence and hospitality. Motto live the gospel way of life 1

4 COLLEGE FACILITIES The college is in the course of construction. Currently it has the facilities to accommodate up to 75 students at any one time. When the building programme is complete in 2017 it will be able to accommodate up 150 students. The college has excellent learning, recreational, dining and accommodation facilities. In addition to catering for short and medium term courses, facilities are of a standard that the college can also cater for workshops, seminars and retreats. Government, Non-government and Church agencies are encouraged to use these facilities which are in a peaceful, pristine environment that is conducive to learning, spiritual growth and relaxation. AAC FARM The gross area of the farm attached to the college is 24 hectares. When the conserved wetlands, river banks and buildings are taken out, the adjusted area is approximately 12 hectares. The aim is to develop a sustainable farm business that will provide learning experiences for students and contribute to the financial sustainability of the college. The farm is committed to using organic technologies and a wide range of farm enterprises are being developed. These include crops, tree and fruit nursery, orchard, small scale irrigation and livestock (poultry, dairy cattle, dairy goats, sheep, pigs and bees) enterprises AAC STAFF The college has a highly dedicated professional and support staff. In addition, specialists from outside the college are recruited to help in the delivery of some training courses. AAC S DEVELOPMENT APPROACH Adraa Agriculture College believes that it is weak human capital that is responsible for underdevelopment in the Region. Therefore, the focus of the college is on giving rural people the opportunity to improve their capacities and capabilities by providing a learning environment and using teaching methodologies that are tailored to meet the needs of individuals and groups. All training courses emphasise the importance of practical skills in developing efficient income generating units. Adraa College is convinced that Sustainable Agriculture is the most appropriate agricultural development strategy for the Region. All college farming courses emphasise this strategy. Adraa s understanding of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development is as follows: Sustainable agriculture is a system of farming based on a process that strives to meet the needs necessary for an integrated, happy life of those depending on the farm by developing the available human, physical, financial and natural resources. 2

5 The sustainable agriculture process ensures focus on the economic, social, cultural, environmental, political and institutional factors required in order to achieve balanced, sustainable livelihoods for present and future generations. It also emphasizes the cross cutting issues affecting the farm family and community. Therefore sustainable agriculture aims at improving the livelihood of the family depending on the farm through processes and strategies that ensure focus is on the four pillars on which it is founded - economic, environment, socio/cultural, and political/institutional. Rural Development is concerned with the integrated development of rural areas - geographical rural communities at village, parish, sub-county or district levels. Sustainable rural development requires: education, sustainable agriculture, community development, marketing, water and sanitation, non-farm rural enterprise and a focus on cross cutting issues that affect individuals, families and the community. ADRAA AGRICULTURE COLLEGE PRGRAMMES In striving to fulfil its mission Adraa Agriculture College currently runs two programmes: 1. Education and training programme and 2. Offaka development programme 1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMME The focus in all Adraa education and training courses is on the student acquiring practical skills. The college emphasise the role of women in development and women are encouraged to take part in courses offered. To facilitate the participation of women in training courses a crèche is available to provide a healthy, safe environment for young children under the care of trained child carers hour Courses There is a wide range of courses available in many aspects of sustainable agriculture and rural development. Standard college 40 hour (1 week) and 80 (2 weeks) hour courses cover many aspects of sustainable agriculture and include soil fertility, organic farming, bees, goats, poultry, tree & fruit nursery, cattle, sheep, pigs, small scale irrigation, kitchen gardening, post harvest handling and farming as a business. Business development courses include credit and savings, value addition, processing and marketing of bee products and starting your own business. Socio cultural development courses include participatory action research, leadership for transformation, gender in development and participatory project planning. Courses may also be designed to meet the needs of particular groups. 3

6 hour Courses In addition to the 40 and 80 hour courses Adraa Agriculture College offers a range of 80 to 500 hour training courses. These courses are designed for interested rural youth who have identified a potential farm or non-farm enterprise that will contribute to their achieving a sustainable livelihood. The potential participant in these courses must have selected the specific enterprise and have undergone an orientation process before being accepted for the course. Currently courses available include horticulture, poultry, bees, pigs, nursery/forestry, goats field crops. On completion of the development of the college it is planned to expand the range of courses to include fruit processing, cooking, hospitality sector, ecotourism, workshop businesses etc Course schedule for forty (40) and eighty (80) hour courses: Date Course Hrs. Places available January Sustainable agriculture foundations 40 Full February Sustainable agriculture foundations 40 Full 21 February 05 March Leadership & business skills 80 Full June Farming as a business June Beekeeping level June Starting your own business October Personal and group transformation October Participatory monitoring & evaluation October 05 November Small scale irrigation October 05 November Kitchen gardening October 05 November Beekeeping level November Poultry production November Pig production November Kitchen gardening November Value addition November Processing & marketing of bee products November Artisan skills for bee equipment

7 2016 Course schedule for courses longer than 80 hours Date Course Hrs. Places available 07 January 16 February Bee farming 300 Full 07 January 16 February Horticulture 300 Full 07 January 16 February Poultry production 300 Full 06 March 16 April Pig production 300 Full 06 March 16 April Poultry production 300 Full 06 March 16 April Bee farming 300 Full 06 March 16 April Horticulture 300 Full 24 April 18 June Horticulture July 27 August Horticulture September 22 October Horticulture September 22 October Poultry production September 22 October Bee keeping September 22 October Tree and fruit nursery Courses are run in partnership and collaboration with Government, Church and NGO agencies working with rural communities in the Region. COSTS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSES The cost of the standard 40 hour (one week) course range UGX 160,000 to 200,000 ( 45-56) depending on course content. This fee covers course tuition, stationery, food and accommodation. The cost of a 300 hour (6 week) course ranges from UGX 720,000 to UGX 800,000 ( ). Other courses are charged on a pro rata basis. Students are expected to be in the college full time, including weekends, for these courses. Students are to report to the college by 5.00pm on Sunday evening prior to the start of the course and leave after breakfast on Saturday morning on the completion of the course. Course fees are to be paid before the commencement of the course. Food, beds, bed clothing, towels and dining room equipment are provided by the college. In addition to ordinary clothes students need to bring slippers, gumboots, overalls and sportswear. 5

8 ADRAA BEE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Beekeeping is an enterprise with high potential in Region. Adraa Agriculture College Bee Development Centre provides high quality training in all aspects of beekeeping and development services for interested individuals or groups. Training may be provided in the college or on-site depending on the needs of the group. 2. OFFAKA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Offaka Sub-county is where Adraa Agriculture College is situated. This Sub-county is representative of most rural areas in the Region. Poverty rates are high, education levels are low and the environment is being rapidly eroded. An integrated development programme for Offaka Subcounty has been developed with the support of Misean Cara, Misereor and Friends of the Franciscan Brothers. This programme has five projects; sustainable agriculture, beekeeping, education, youth and women. The programme works in collaboration with Local Government and World Vision. The overall aim of Offaka Development Programme is to contribute to the improvement of livelihoods of the people of Offaka and to provide learning experiences for students participating in Adraa Agriculture College courses AAC OPEN DAYS In 2016 Adraa Agriculture College will host two Open Days: Friday, 23 September 2016 for the staff and students of primary schools, secondary schools and third level education institutions. Tuesday, 27 September for farmers, development agencies and the general public. Open Days are run in partnership with Government, NARO, Non- government and Church agencies Open Days theme is: Sustainable Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihoods and Wealth Creation 6

9 AAC BUSINESS UNIT To contribute towards the financial sustainability of the college a business unit has been established at the college. The aim of this unit is to make money to support the activities of the college and to provide learning experience for college students. The Business Unit develops and manages potentially profitable income generating activities. Currently the unit is concerned with developing Anyu Adraa Honey by purchasing, processing and marketing honey produced in West Nile. The aim is to have a premium product that can be traced back to the producer. Other potential products will also be added to the list. These will include workshop goods, value added farm products, services to farmers, facilities for seminars, workshops, retreats, meetings and a retail outlet. AAC PARTNERS Two fundamental principles underpinning the work of Adraa Agriculture College are collaboration and partnership. The college is privileged to have many partners that support the promotion of its mission. AAC Partners fall under three categories: learning partners, resource partners and positioning partners. Partners include: the Government of Uganda at parish, sub-county and district levels; Franciscan Brothers (Ireland, California and Kenya); Irish Government; Catholic Diocese of Nebbi; Baraka Agricultural College (Kenya); Misean Cara (Ireland); Gorta/Self Help Africa (Ireland); Trocaire (Ireland); Misereor (Germany); Manos Unidas (Spain); World Mercy (Germany); ZOA (Netherlands); SNV (Netherlands); Friends of Londiani (Kenya & Ireland); AFARD (Uganda);CEFORD (Uganda); World Vision (Offaka); DAFA (Ireland); Combined Services (Ireland); Mountbellew Agriculture College Past Pupils Union (Ireland); New York Cavan Association; Uganda Irish Society; NARO (Uganda); TUNADO (Uganda) and many individuals and families in Ireland, USA, UK, Kenya and Uganda. Partners play a very important role in the life of the college, not just by providing financial support but also through advice, sharing of learning, monitoring, evaluation and advocacy. In the absence of direct government support, partners will continue to play a vital role in the future of Adraa Agriculture College. 7

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12 Franciscan Brothers Adraa Agriculture College Offaka, Arua District, West Nile, Uganda 10 Contact Information: Post: P.O. Box 135, Nebbi, Uganda Phone: