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UNIVERSITY of HAWAITat MANOA <br />COOPERATIVE EXTENSION <br />COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE <br />April 22, 2025 <br />Hawaii County Research and Development <br />25 Aupuni St., Room 1301 <br />Hilo, HI 96720 <br />Aloha Government Operations and External Affairs Committee, <br />Mahalo for the opportunity to share additional data on the outcomes and long-term impact of <br />GoFarm Hawaii (GFH), a statewide beginning farmer training and business technical <br />assistance program of University of Hawai`i's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human <br />Resilience Cooperative Extension. We appreciate the Committee's consideration and are <br />pleased to provide the requested information. <br />Program Reach and Graduate Success <br />Since our training program started in 2012, GFH has graduated 608 individuals from our <br />beginning farmer training program. Of the graduates in the last 5 years: <br />• 80% of graduates went on to farm —either on GFH Aglncubator land or at independent <br />locations. <br />• On Hawaii Island alone, we have produced 65 graduates since 2020, with 83% actively <br />working in the agriculture sector. <br />Current Farming Activity and Upscaling <br />In our 2024 bi-annual GoFarm alumni survey, which had a 37% response rate for AgXcel <br />graduates (76 respondents), we found: <br />• 71% of AgXcel graduates are still actively involved in farming —either managing their <br />own operations or working for others. <br />• Many report having scaled up their production, expanded their market channels, or <br />diversified their offerings over time. <br />Barriers Faced by Those Not Involved in Farming <br />Alumni who are not currently farming cited the following barriers (multiple responses allowed): <br />• Lack of time due to primary occupation — 90% <br />• Lack of startup capital — 50% <br />• Access to land — 40% <br />• Financial return (not enough income) — 30% <br />• Health — 20% <br />• Family obligations —10% <br />• Lack of access to health insurance —10% <br />COOPERATIVE EXTENSION — GOFARM HAWAI°I <br />St. John #503, 3190 Maile Way I Honolulu, HI 96822 <br />Ph: (808) 956-3530 1 info@gofarmhawaii.org I www.gofarmhawaii.org <br />An Equal Opportunity Institution <br />