The Formentera Council's Office of Agriculture reports that this Friday, December 15, enrolment will begin for continuing education courses in produce and livestock farming for 2018. Classes begin January 15 with a supplemental course for professionals on the rudiments of pesticide. A total of six courses are available as part of this year's lifelong learning catalogue.
Department chair Bartomeu Escandell laid out his office's goal: “Assure a wide variety of courses and training opportunities, open to the public, for the island's farming and livestock sectors”. Such courses aim to meet the need for “specialised training in agriculture, livestock rearing and agrofood,” said Escandell.
This time around, with the focus trained on providing examples of success stories among enterprising individuals in rural communities, the Council hopes to offer inspiration for like-minded farmers. One course about “agrarian entrepreneurialism” is positioned as experience sharing about reclaiming and adapting the countryside. It will take place over three full-day sessions during which figures from big-name agricultural initiatives will share their experiences with participants.
Courses
1. Basic pesticides for professionals – Complentary (7 hours) January 15 and 16
2. Basic pesticides for professionals (25 hours) January 22 to 26
3. Managing large harvests. Alternatives in improving production and soil fertility. (10 hours) January 30 and 31
4. Agrarian entrepreneurialism: Experiences reclaiming and readapting the countryside (15 hours) February 9, 16 and 17
5. Earth-smart horticulture (10 hours) February 22 and 23
6. Detection and control of Xylella fastidiosa (5 hours) March 9
The classes, which are free and combine both theory and its practical application, last between 5 and 25 hours and will take place in Council buildings.
Part of the 2014-2020 rural development programme of the Balearic Islands, the continuing education initiative receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Spain's general public administrative service (AGE) and the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands (CAIB).
Anyone interested in signing up should visit the Citizen's Information Office in person from 9.00am to 2.00pm, do it online via OVAC, request info through the Formentera Council's Office of Agriculture by calling 971.32.10.87 extensions 3166 and 3165, or contact agricultura@conselldeformentera.cat.
Enrolment will remain open as long as there is space available to ensure proper instruction.