The Central Provincial Government has given K200, 000 to the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) to help local farmers transition from subsistence farming to commercial farming. This payment is part of a larger commitment under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in July 2024 to support agricultural development in the province. Central Province Governor Rufina Peter handed over the cheque to FPDA and highlighted the importance of the funding in transforming agriculture in the province. “This is such an important project because we are piloting the Market for Village Farmers program in Vanapa Brown,” Governor Peter said. This initiative is aimed at helping local farmers improve their production and sell more in markets, moving away from farming just to feed their families. The total commitment from the Central Provincial Government over the next four years is K1 million, and this first payment marks the beginning of a larger effort. “We allocated K1 million. Yes, we did. So, this is the first K200, 000 that’s going out for the work to be done,” Peter explained. The goal is to help farmers develop the skills to run profitable farming businesses. Peter stressed that this project is about transitioning farmers from a subsistence lifestyle to a more commercial approach. "It's such an important project, especially from the food crops sub-sector, and I'm grateful for this partnership," she said. The pilot program will provide valuable lessons to expand the initiative to other parts of Central Province. Governor Peter also emphasized the need for discipline and commitment from the farmers involved in the program. “We don’t want to start with farmers who are not in this business. They must already have some discipline of doing production to markets,” she said, pointing out the importance of targeting farmers who are already experienced in farming. Mark Worinu, CEO of FPDA, praised Governor Peter and the Central Provincial Government for their commitment. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Madam Governor for honoring the commitment. Despite the three months after the signing of the commitment, three months is very short, and so I want to thank you for that,” Worinu said. He explained that FPDA will be working closely with the provincial government to ensure the success of the project. The plan includes conducting a scoping study to assess the current farming conditions and identify opportunities for improvement. The results of this study will help shape the future activities of the project. Worinu also highlighted the importance of supporting young agricultural graduates who will play a key role in the project. “In projects like this, we will create those incentives, and they can create pathways for themselves to become future leaders,” he said. Worinu stressed that young people must see agriculture as a viable career option and that projects like this will give them the motivation and opportunity to succeed. The Central Provincial Government and FPDA are committed to working together to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the province. The project aims to modernize agriculture in Central Province and help farmers move from subsistence farming to becoming successful commercial farmers. With this funding and collaboration, the future looks promising for agriculture in Central Province. The K200, 000 payment is only the beginning of a larger vision to transform farming and improve the economy for local farmers.