FVSU has new ways to reach minority farmers

April 14, 2021

Lizbeth Gutierrez,

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Agricultural professors at Fort Valley State University are working to help minority farmers.

Professors say they have seen an increase in help needed following the start of the pandemic. Using their mobile information technology unit, they can help.

The unit, which contains a 25 station computer lab, has helped reach farmers all over Georgia.

The technology helps to teach farmers new skills, including record-keeping, USDA programming and filling out the census.

FVSU’s main goal is to keep farmers in the area.

“We want their kids to be proud of inheriting the farm. We want them to see value in sustaining it,” Ralph Noble, Dean of the College of Agriculture, said.

Through community outreach, the college says it has seen an increase of people requesting the service.

“There’s a lot of research that takes place on campus,” Associate Dean for Extension Mark Latimore said. “We use that to enhance and grow operations.”

In additio to enhancing operations, the college is working on another project to help expand the agriculture business.

Gobind Kannan, the school’s vice president of Economic Development, says the project includes establishing a center for agriculture innovation and entrepreneurship.