Farmer-To-Farmer: Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Republic of Kosovo, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Overview
The five-year, $7.4 million John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (2008-2013), funded through USAID, focused on select agricultural value chains, identifying needs at every level from production to marketing.
Impact
- 1,284 recommendations offered for overall business improvement
- 13,719 individuals directly assisted
- 343 volunteer assignments completed
- 185 primary host organizations with whom ECCA volunteers have worked
From 2008 to 2013, CNFA sent more than 340 volunteers focusing on fruits and vegetables, dairy, and livestock value chains to Belarus, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Approach
CNFA relied on the expertise of U.S. volunteers from diverse backgrounds to respond to the needs of host country farmers and organizations. Volunteers were deeply experienced in their fields and represented all ages and industries, including farmers, bankers, professors, civil servants, and active and retired business people.
The assignments, ranging from two-to-four-week long projects, varied in scope, from training associated service providers and agribusinesses in financial management to marketing, cooperative development, agricultural production, post-harvest and processing technologies, international quality standards, and rural finance.
