Six Farm Systems Officers from international development charity Ripple Effect completed a ten week Marshal Papworth scholarship programme at Agricultural University Harper Adams, in Shropshire
The Ripple Effect staff members travelled from East Africa to Shropshire to deepen their knowledge of sustainable agriculture and bring that new information into their work in Africa.
As part of their time in the UK, the farm systems officers met Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.
Isaac Ogutu, from Ripple Effect Kenya, said: “Todays Royal visit was incredible, we had a rare opportunity to shake hands with the Princess Royal and share with her what we are doing in our countries to help communities be food secure and the contribution we are making in the communities where we work.”
Her visit came along with other privileges that we would have missed if she did not visit, for example, High Commissioners from our countries came and that provided us the opportunity to meet them and share with them more about Marshal Papworth short course scholarship and the impact it is going to create in our communities and towards national development.”
Agnes, Eugene, Prosper, Valens, Mesfin and Isaac have since waved goodbye to the rolling Shropshire hills, but they will carry everything they have learned with them into their next projects with Ripple Effect.
Valens Kanakuze, from Ripple Effect Rwanda, said: “Despite the huge challenges faced by farmers [in rural Africa] it is possible for them to adapt to the effects of the climate crisis. They need support, and Ripple Effect’s contribution has never been more vital.”
The charity’s mission is to create a confident and thriving rural Africa, something that the Marshal Papworth alumni are now better equipped to achieve. To learn more about Ripple Effect’s work in sustainable farming, listen to us on the RegenAgri podcast or visit rippleeffect.org.
Charity staff on farm scholarship programme meet Princess Anne
