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John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer Program—Focusing on Technology Transfer, Market Chain Development and Strengthening Local Organizations

The Farmer-to-Farmer (FTF) Program was first authorized by the U. S. Congress in 1985 to provide for the transfer of knowledge and expertise of U. S. agricultural producers and businesses on a voluntary basis to middle-income countries and emerging democracies. Since that time, the Program has earned respect for the high-quality technical services it provides to developing country host institutions. The U.S. Congress re-authorized the Farmer-to-Farmer Program in the 2002 Farm Bill, designating it the John Ogonowski FTF Program in honor of one of the pilots killed September 11, 2001.

Haitian farmer presents new peanut varieties introduced by FTF volunteers

Program evaluations have consistently found that the program provides high quality services from volunteers, leveraging over $34 million worth of volunteer time contributions to development efforts. Approximately one million farmer families (representing about five million people) have been direct beneficiaries of the FTF Program. Volunteers help host individuals and organizations build local institutions and linkages to resolve local problems and have provided direct hands-on training to over 80,000 people. Since program initiation, over 9,600 volunteer assignments have been completed in over 80 countries. Approximately 19% of all volunteers are women and about 39% of all individuals trained by FTF volunteers are women.

In September 2003, the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed cooperative agreements with eight institutions for the provision of FTF Program volunteer services for international agricultural development. From 2004 to 2008, the program will operate in 40 core countries, providing over 3000 volunteer technical assistance assignments averaging three and a half weeks duration. The eight FTF Program implementing organizations work closely with overseas USAID Missions and local partner organizations, supporting a variety of development programs aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating sustainable and broad-based economic growth.

The FTF Program has evolved, placing increased emphasis on economic impact and measurable results by concentrating volunteer assignments in specific geographical areas, commodities programs, and service sectors. New programs go beyond simply placing volunteers on an individual basis and focus on development of specific market chains for which over-all impact can be evaluated. Programs build institutions and transfer technology and management expertise to link small farmers with markets that exploit comparative advantages in production, processing, and marketing. Volunteers typically work with medium and small agro-enterprises, cooperatives, individual producers, agricultural extension and research agencies, and financial institutions.

Major areas of program focus include: horticulture and high value crops, income diversification, dairy and livestock, producer organizations, financial services, marketing and processing, and natural resources management. Current Farmer-to-Farmer Program implementing agencies and the countries and Focus Areas in which they are active are listed below:

Active Farmer-To-Farmer Programs

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