Olives, Tractors, and Healthy Birds: The Farmer-to-Farmer Program
Event Information
USAID has a long history of supporting voluntary services and private citizen engagement in international development work. Such volunteer services are cost-effective and draw on practical, real-world experience in commercial enterprises and organizations with linkages that often continue beyond the period of the assignment. Volunteers contribute to U.S. citizens' understanding of development issues and present a human face to USAID programs, as embodied in its motto, "From the American People."
The Farmer-to-Farmer Program provides diverse services to agricultural enterprises, agribusinesses, NGOs, cooperatives, universities, and service agencies overseas. Program volunteers leverage other resources and complement existing programs through addressing issues in food security, environmental conservation, and poverty reduction. Most assignments focus on technology transfer and/or human and institutional capacity development.
This seminar highlighted three examples of innovative integration of Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers into programs to complement and leverage larger resources. These included: combating Avian Influenza in East Africa; mechanizing Georgian agriculture; and facilitating venture capital flow to agricultural value chains in Morocco.
Speakers
DeAnn McGrew
Winrock International
Patrick Norrell
CNFA
Malina Dumas
VEGA