The project is a two state project that will provide resources and new market opportunities to 20 new and beginner women and minority, particularly blacks, farmers each year in south georgia and the…

The Georgia Women In AG Association, Inc. was awarded a $590,538 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to provide resources and market opportunities to women and minority farmers in Georgia and Mississippi over three years. The project aims to improve farming practices, increase revenue, and expand fresh food access for 20 new and beginning women and minority farmers annually through outreach, farm-to-market and food safety training, and access to new markets. Key partners include universities and cooperatives in Georgia and Mississippi. Expected outcomes include enrolling and completing 60 farmers in the program, demonstrating increased knowledge and skills among 90% of participants, and gaining access to new market opportunities for 60% of participants, increasing farm income for 55% of participants by Year 3.

The project is a two state project that will provide resources and new market opportunities to 20 new and beginner women and minority, particularly blacks, farmers each year in south georgia and the mississippi delta. The goal of the project is to improve farming practices that lead to new market access and exposure, increased revenue among targeted farmers and fresh food access in rural communities in alignment with the bfrdp goals. The 3 year project budget is $590,538 with 90 percent of the budget being used to serve women and minority farmers. Project objectives are outreach, farm to market and food safety training, and opportunties to acess new markets which will lead to increased income and profitability of our target farmers.georgia and MS delta chapters of national women in agriculture will partner with fort valley state university, alcorn state university extension program, university of georgia AG science and technology, cooperatives and local farm businesses to deliver an extensive farm to market training program with mentorships and market opportunities.expected outcomes over the 3 year project term include:60 new and beginner minority and female participants enroll and complete the programincrease in knowledge and awareness of the program and food access needs in the COMMUNITY90 percent of participants demonstrate increased knowledge and skills in production PRACTICES80 percent of participants apply knowledge and skills aqcuired through the PROJECT60 percent of partcipants gain access to new market OPPORTUNITIES55 percent of particpants increase farm income through new market access by year 34 new partnerships gained for ongoing program sustainability and ongoing support