AGCO Agriculture Foundation has received a donation from Claas in honor of AGCO Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Martin Richenhagen’s upcoming retirement.

The donation will be used to provide interactive, learning-based programs for children and young adults living at the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm community over a six-month period. Mr. Richenhagen was a Member of the Claas  Group Executive Board from 1998 – 2002.

“Our organization, like the AGCO Agriculture Foundation, is committed to food security, and we wanted to commemorate Martin Richenhagen’s retirement in a way that speaks to our shared values. We are delighted to support this timely and important community development project at the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm in Zambia, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact the project will have in the host community.”

said Claas CEO Thomas Böck.

The Martin Richenhagen Future Farm community in Lusaka, Zambia is home to more than 200 people, with the majority being between the ages of four and 20 years old. Project activities will start in December and run through May 2021.

“As a foundation, we are truly grateful to have received this goodwill donation from Claas. We are equally thankful to the management of AGCO for allowing us to deploy the funds to implement programs and initiatives that support the advancement of corporate social responsibility aligned with our vision and purpose,”

said Lucinda Smith, Chairman, AGCO Agriculture Foundation.

“We believe that the green, mentorship, and edutainment programs at the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm community will allow the children and youth to develop leadership skills, improve their creativity and learn how to keep a home garden for healthy nutrition. We are optimistic this project will bring about meaningful changes and growth among the young people and the entire community in the short-term and in the future,”

Smith adds.

Three non-profit organizations will provide tailored learning initiatives for the participants within the project period. The Claas contribution to the AAF has inspired these organizations to come together and jointly respond to the need of implementing social initiatives for Zambian children and youth in the midst of a global pandemic. These organizations include:

4-H Group will support the green garden project by working with the Future Farm to provide hands-on educational activities by building a greenhouse facility for vegetable gardening and farm demonstration. Up to 50 children and youth from the community will be trained on land preparation for cropping, seed/seedling planting, crop and weed control, simple irrigation techniques, crop harvesting, nutrition, and related topics. The experiential learning will enable the children to build on the basics of growing vegetables for healthy eating.

The Leadership Bank, an organization committed to driving change and building networks of values-based leaders, will facilitate series of mentorship and coaching sessions with the Future Farm youth to enhance their leadership traits, soft skills, and personal growth. Other activities will help the participants develop skills to improve their confidence, decision-making, and equip them with healthy behaviors towards societal transformation.

Barefeet Theatre, the youth arts organization, will facilitate edutainment activities for the participants to enhance their creative skills towards social change and human development. Social and creative initiatives will be implemented as a means to strengthen their capacity towards improved confidence, creative skills, community inclusion, and prevention of engagement in social vices.

Source: AGCO

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AGCO announced that its Zambia Future Farm has been renamed the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm to honor the long-tenured chairman, president and CEO set to retire December 31.

“Mr. Richenhagen has staked his legacy on the continent of Africa, from investing in our parts warehouse facilities, opening our headquarters in Johannesburg, launching our Future Farm concept, introducing the Farm in a Box, and creating the AGCO Agribusiness Qualification initiative. We are truly grateful for his vision to expand AGCO’s investments in the African continent and in turn, contribute sustainable agriculture solutions.”

said Gary Collar, AGCO Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific and Africa.

The 150-hectare Martin Richenhagen Future Farm was opened in 2015, with a mission to give African farmers access to the latest sustainable agricultural solutions while making farming profitable. In July 2019, AGCO announced a second phase of development to take this Future Farm to its next chapter as a growing, state-of-the-art learning facility for the next generation of African farmers.

The new features include 24-room student and staff accommodations and communal amenities, such as a canteen able to seat more than 80 people. An insaka homestead, a traditional complex of grass gazebos with a central courtyard, has been added to foster interactive learning. Renovations also include a new church and community center to serve the 200-strong Future Farm community.

“This is a great, unexpected honor, as the Zambia Future Farm is very dear to my heart. I look forward to being able to see the red soil of Zambia once again in person.”

said Martin Richenhagen, AGCO Chairman, President and CEO.

Source: AGCO

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The AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF) announced a new partnership with Self Help Africa (SHA) to implement a sustainable poultry production project that will contribute to enhanced food, skills, income, and nutrition security of smallholder farming communities in Chongwe District of the Republic of Zambia.

The official project launch event took place at the AGCO Future Farm Zambia on Thursday, November 5, 2020, with 50 stakeholders in attendance from across the Zambia poultry and agricultural industry, government officials, journalists, farmer cooperatives, poultry associations, and community leaders, including representatives of the Chongwe District’s Royal Highness Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II.

The poultry industry in Zambia is mostly dominated by small-scale farmers who depend on poultry as a social safety net, especially vulnerable households. Given the growing demand for poultry protein and global commitment towards the improvement of animal welfare, it is pivotal to develop tailored projects and initiatives that address key issues and provide sustainable solutions to hunger and nutrition among marginalized farming communities.

“We understand the urgent need to support small-scale farmers in Zambia so that together we can improve production and address existing food and nutrition insecurities. Our foundation is thrilled to partner with Self Help Africa to implement a sustainable approach to enhance the knowledge, skills, and practices of smallholders. Empowering the producers to improve their livestock management operations for economic and nutritional benefits will also highlight animal welfare practices for better treatment of farm animals across the value chain,”

says Metti Richenhagen, Managing Director, AGCO Agriculture Foundation.

The AGCO Agriculture Foundation’s funding is geared towards increasing the productivity, skills, nutrition, and income of 100 poultry farmers in the Chongwe district of Zambia and 50 female poultry farmers from the identified women’s groups.

“Supporting small-scale farmers to end hunger and poverty in rural Africa remains our key focus, and we are excited to work with the AGCO Agriculture Foundation to strengthen this zero hunger commitment. With the prevalence of hunger and nutrition insecurity in the targeted Chongwe district, which has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are optimistic about the timely intervention the project will bring towards sustainable poultry production,”

says Elia Manda, Zambia Country Director, Self Help Africa.

The project will be implemented in conjunction with the AGCO Future Farm in Zambia to provide training support for the project beneficiaries.

“Our agricultural training facility will play a key role to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer for farmers on best livestock management practices required to boost productivity and income. We will work with our Grain & Protein business unit to support selected farmers on improved animal welfare and livestock management operations,”

adds Kalongo Chitengi, Senior Manager, AGCO Future Farm.

Source: AGCO

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