Herders are trained in regenerative agriculture

A group of 30 farmers and milk producers from the provinces Los Santos, Herrera and Chiriqui They received training on ecological restoration and forest-pastoral systems.

The participants of this first generation received four thematic modules consisting of introductory presentations, field visits, demonstration areas, group exercises, reflection and creation of a final project with a plan of ecological restoration activities on their farms.

Jacob Slusser, coordinator of the Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative (ELTI) in Panama, a program of the Yale University School of the Environment, noted that these steps contribute to improving environmental services and increasing productivity.

Furthermore, participants have access and guidance for developing realistic ecological, social and economic restoration strategies.

“We worked as a team with dairy farmers in the area with training focused on promoting ecological restoration and regenerative agriculture strategies, such as forest grazing systems that allow them to integrate trees and shrubs into their farms,” ​​Slusser said.

The master of forestry added that “the most important thing is that we have two-way communication, because we also listen to them, we know their reality and adapt the teaching to what they live on their farms”.

Victor Fuentesa rancher from the province of Chiriquí and a participant in the training, shared that they allowed him to establish New strategies customize your ideal farm.

“My ideal farm is one that can provide food for my family, animals and that is a sufficient source of income to manage it, in harmony with the environment,” he said.

The educations are part of Nestlé’s Plan for the promotion of milk and dairy products, which plans to obtain 25% of the amount of dairy products from farms engaged in regenerative agriculture by 2025.

The dairy industry, as commented earlier by the president of Anagan, Ovidio Saavedra, is one of the points to improve at the country level.