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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.

Photo - Haitian farmer presents new peanut
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

Region
Contacts
Countries
Focus Areas
Asia Winrock International
Demetria Arvanitis
Email: darvanitis@winrock.org
Phone: 802-869-1000
Bangladesh
India
Indonesia
Nepal
Sri Lanka
East Timor
Vietnam
Apiculture
Horticulture
Medicinal Plants
Caribbean Partners of the Americas
Peggy Carlson
Email: pcarlson@partners.net
Phone: 202-637-6230
Guyana
Haïti
Jamaica
Horticulture
Non-Traditional High
Value Products
Caucasus ACDI/VOCA
Christine Link
Email: clink@acdivoca.org
Phone: 202-879-0259

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Grain Market Development
Horticulture Development
Livestock Development
Ag. Support Organizations
Rural Financial Services
Central Asia Winrock International
Erin Hughes
Email: Ehughes@winrock.org
Phone: 510-482-1150
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Agribusiness Development
Dairy Development
Farm Management
Producer Organizations
Water Management
Horticulture
Veterinary Services
Co-op/Association Development

Eastern Africa ACDI/VOCA
Christine Link
Email: clink@acdivoca.org
Phone: 202-879-0259
Kenya
Uganda
Market Development
Natural Resource Mgmt.
Producer Organizations
Rural Extension Systems
Eastern Africa Virginia State University
Dr. Wondi Mersie
Email: wmersie@vsu.edu
Phone: 804-524-5819

Ethiopia
Farm Diversification
Ag. Services Development
Natural Resource Mgmt.
Latin America Winrock International
Nona Fisher
Email: nfisher@winrock.org
Phone: 808-234-7477
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Bolivia
Horticulture Exports
Market Development
Non-Timber Forest Products
Producer Organizations
Livestock/Dairy
Russia ACDI/VOCA
Arthur Crowder
Email: acrowder@acdivoca.org
Phone: 202-383-4987
Russia Agribusiness Development
Crop Production
Dairy Development
Rural Financial Services
Southern Africa Florida A&M University
Harriett Paul
Email: HAPaul585@aol.com
Phone: 850-599-8825
South Africa Producer Organization Development
Southern Africa Land O’Lakes
Maria Matlashewski
Email: mpmatlashweski@landolakes.com
Phone: 651-494-5130
Angola
Malawi
Mozambique
South Africa
Zambia
Dairy Production/Processing
High Value Crop Production/Processing
Market Development
Oilseed Production/Processing
Western Africa OIC International
Michelle Frain-Muldoon
Email: mfrain@oici.org
Phone: 215-842-0220 x 118
Ghana
Guinea
Mali
Nigeria
Natural Resource Mgmt.
Horticultural Production
Non-Traditional Products
Producer Organizations
Western NIS Citizens’ Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA)
Patrick Norrell
Email: pnorrell@cnfa.org
Phone: 202-296-3920
Belarus
Moldova
Ukraine
Farm Management
Input Supply Services
Market Development
Rural Financial Services

 

 

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Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:20:57 -0500
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