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Monica Garcia-Teruel, Mexico, MSc Plant Sciences 2012

Hello,

I was in the program MSc in Plant Sciences (Horticulture) 2010-2012. I currently live in Mexico City, and I started my business 2 years ago, called VERDE AIRE, it is a small hydroponic greenhouse where I grow lettuce and other greens, mostly local produce, and also ecologically. We started selling to supermarkets and in very small scale to restaurants.

I also work at a rural development start-up: ESOKO, as agricultural content creator. And lastly I just started last week, teaching one course at the Bachelor of Sustainable Development, called Climate Change.

2 things that I really wanted are true: work in rural development and starting a project.

Cheers! 

Simon Ekwaro, Uganda, MSc Plant Sciences 2014

Am really more than happy to write to you and above all inform you about the achievements and progress that I have made at the moment. When I made my decision to leave the Faculty last year to come back home (Uganda) to cater for my sick and old parents in the village, I had two things in mind which I even wrote in my letter of appreciation to the sponsors;

1. To startup an Agro input business centre where I sell all kinds of Agro inputs to the farming communities in my area.
2. To start the process of establishing a farm which will be used as a centre for providing training to Youths, small and medium scale farmer, Agricultural colleges Universities and other willing bodies

Am happy to inform you that I managed to set up the Agro input centre though it has also some challenges in management which am trying to address with my colleagues.

I also acquired Land with my colleague in an area which is strategically located to provide the service since it is located between two different towns in the Northern part of the country.

We also managed to establish a piggery unit and set up several demonstrations gardens and also started conducted some training in agronomy of vegetables mainly Tomatoes and Cabbages.

At the moment, we are planning to establish small green houses for tomatoes, and other vegetables to fully provide practical, modern and new technologies to the farmers, youths and other interested persons as stated above.

What we also deal with is engaging the youth who don't take farming seriously to see that there is value in farming. We also want to see that the youth are actively involved into Agriculture sector in Uganda by being exemplary.