The Kohala Center created the Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program in 2012 with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research & Development. Through partnerships with several local government agencies and academic institutions, the program has recruited, trained, and supported more than 150 new farmers in the Hāmākua region of Hawai‘i Island to date.

Our intensive ten-month educational program provides 188 hours of classroom training, workshops, on-farm instruction, field trips to diverse farms and ranches, and online materials. University of Hawai‘i researchers, extension agents, and other agricultural experts will cover subjects such as soil fertility management, plant nutrition, livestock production, composting and cover cropping, pest management, marketing, business planning, financing, and more.

Upon successful completion of the program, our staff can assist you in applying for farm leases and capital to scale production, marketing, and distribution of your crops.