CAFRE is ready, willing and able to deliver in the face of Covid-19

Without a doubt the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic over the past two months has affected every single aspect of our lives and it is possible that things may never be the same again.

Our agricultural industry has faced the daunting task of keeping our food supply networks open and moving to the point where produce continues to reach our tables. Their efforts and those of processors, distributors and retailers must be recognised as key to the continuing functioning of our society and our sincere thanks quite rightly must be extended to them.

CAFRE is a vital lynchpin to the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland. Its educational programmes, its advisory services to the farming industry, the food and drink sector, the equine sector and its business connections within all of these are renowned and respected across the globe.

In March, the decision was taken to cease all face-to-face delivery of our educational programmes and advisory services in accordance with government guidance on social distancing and to safeguard the well-being of both our staff and our students.

Playing our part in preventing the further spread of Covid-19 has meant readjusting to new methods of delivering our programmes and services. Across CAFRE’s three campuses at Greenmount, Co Antrim, Loughry in Co Tyrone and Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh, work has continued unabated to deliver the educational programmes and advisory services as they have always done in their inimitable and innovative manner.

Remote working and harnessing the use of various methods of online technology has become a way of life for us all at CAFRE. It has enabled us to continue to deliver our educational programmes to our students as they finish their courses. Similarly, it has made us able to seek a fresh intake of students for the next academic year across our huge range of disciplines.

There has been an increasing use of instructional videos delivered to our YouTube channel allowing our officials to continue to deliver technical advice to the farming and business sectors who rely on our up to date advice to grow their successful ventures. Webinar sessions that can deliver information to great numbers of people have also become a factor in our working environment. And, our localised Business Development Groups are also using the internet to conduct their meetings to pass on best and innovative practice for their districts.

It is this spirit of enthusiasm, co-operation and determination that has always made CAFRE the respected institution that it is and will continue to be despite the greatest challenge that we are all likely to face in our lifetimes.

All that remains is for me to convey my sincere thanks to all associated with CAFRE for their continuing efforts and commitment to their posts. Their work has sent a clear message not only to those who are associated with the College now and those who will join us in the future that we are more than ready, certainly willing and most definitely able to progress no matter what we have and continue to face.