PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced the award of $2.2 million in risk management education grants for America’s farmers, including historically underserved and small-scale producers, at a meeting at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB).
The UAPB Small Farm Program is a recipient of one of the grants. The $100,000 grant will allow UAPB to administer legal, financial and marketing training to socially disadvantaged producers in 21 counties in eastern Arkansas and seven counties in southwest Arkansas.
During the meeting, Marcia Bunger, RMA administrator, addressed Small Farm Program personnel and Dr. Obadiah Njue, UAPB assistant dean for outreach and Extension. Bunger, who was accompanied by a delegation of RMA personnel, ensured the agency’s commitment to serving underserved producers across the country.
Dr. Henry English, head of the UAPB Small Farm Program, and Dr. Ranjitsinh Mane, assistant professor for the UAPB Department of Agriculture, are co-project directors of the grant awarded to UAPB. During the meeting, they discussed the importance of risk management education for underserved-producers.
“I’m very glad to know that RMA funded our project because it will give us an opportunity to provide risk management education to underserved producers,” Dr. English, said. “In most cases, underserved producers do not have access to risk management education. Workshop attendees will have a better understanding of crop insurance and the importance of
record keeping.”
According to its website, the RMA serves America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. The agency aims to increase the availability and effectiveness of federal crop insurance as a risk management tool.
