State seeks employment opportunities for refugee farmers

Do you need farm labor? Want to help others explore careers in agriculture? If so, the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI) would like to hear from you.

MORI is partnering with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) to help refugees with farming experience get jobs in agriculture in Massachusetts. One to four farms near Springfield and Worcester will be selected for a pilot project to work with up to 30 refugees.

MORI is looking for farm, greenhouse, and other agriculture entrepreneurs that have labor needs and are interested in employing refugees. The goal is to help refugees get jobs on farms so they can learn about agriculture in Massachusetts and decide if they want to pursue it as a career.

With farmers’ input, MORI will train refugees to work on their farms. The agency will facilitate the process, develop basic agriculture and language training based on agriculture-employer needs, place refugees on farms, work closely with refugees and farm-employers to solve problems as they arise, hold trainings to ensure refugees understand the operations they work for, and facilitate mentorship relationships.

If you are in need of farm labor and are interested in learning more, contact Larry Dixon for more information at 617-727-7888, x330 or larry.dixon@state.ma.us. 

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