Farming: Scots young farmers bring hope and help to African colleagues

Benin is classified as one of the poorest countries in the world but Scottish young farmers have raised more than £25,000 to help farmers in the west African country to grow more food.

• Young farmers Anna Dickinson, Scott Wilson, Jan Dunlop are preparing to travel to Benin

Young farmers throughout Scotland have worked with the Mercy Ships charity and have smashed their original target of 15,000 by raising more than 25,000 to date.

Now three of the fund raisers, sponsored by Robert Wiseman Dairies, are to travel to Benin, to see how the cash is put to good use. Jan Dunlop, of Stranraer and Rhins YFC, Anna Dickinson, of the Carse of Gowrie club in Perthshire and Scott Wilson of Beith YFC will visit the Food For Life project, an intensive 12 week course for farmers. They are given basic equipment - a hoe, a rake, some seeds, a pair of wellies, a watering can and a wheelbarrow- at a cost of 75 per farmer.