The FAHIE Agricultural Women Co-operative Society (FAWCS), as the name implies, is basically a women’s group which is engaged in farming and agro-processing activities. The group’s goal is to provide value-added nutritious foods by utilizing locally produced agricultural crops, while partnering with the community and enhancing the substantive livelihoods of its members. So in effect the group was formed principally to empower and improve the livelihoods of those members. The Co-operative is involved in both farming and agro processing and to ensure a reliability of supply, the members maintain fruit tree orchards on their plots of land. The maintenance of these orchards contributes to biodiversity, conservation as well as prevention of land degradation.
The agro-processing activities are geared to prevent spoilage of raw produce not sold, preserving by means of fermentation, candying, and pasteurization and eventual conversion into new products. This activity which is normally carried out in the school’s Home Economics room or at a member’s home, helps to promote and improve the number of women who own entrepreneurial enterprise(s) via shared ownership through the cooperative structure.
The use of renewable energy to reduce green house gas emission is another area in which the group believes it can contribute to environmental sustainability through good agricultural practices. Due to the high cost and extensive use of electricity for their processing, the FAWC plans to erect solar panels and also intends to design and use a Modular unit which will help reduce members’ use of fossil fuel.