Gov. David Ige has pledged to double local food production in Hawai‘i by the year 2030. To help meet that demand the University of Hawai‘i is expanding its “GoFarm Hawai‘i” agriculture program to Hawai‘i island. The program currently maintains teaching fields on O‘ahu, Maui and Kaua‘i.

Students are taught agricultural techniques… as well as business skills to manage their crop. Graduates are then eligible for three years of incubation support while they grow crops on land provided by the program. Program director Steven Chang says the average farmer in of Hawai‘i is more than 60 years old so it’s critical to find the next generation of farmers who will keep our agricultural industry thriving. He adds that farming has become popular again with the rise of farm-to-table dining, and farmers markets.

Chang says almost 200 students have graduated from the program since it began four years ago. More information on the UH farming program can be found at GoFarmHawaii.org.