Angola, Malawi, Mozambique

Farmer-to-Farmer: Southern Africa

Overview:

CNFA implements the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program, awarded to CNFA as a cooperative agreement in September 2008 and scheduled to close in September 2018, in Southern Africa working in the core countries of Malawi, Mozambique, and Angola. The F2F program aims to generate rapid, sustained economic growth in the agricultural sector through short-term technical assistance provided by U.S. volunteers. Our volunteers are experts in their fields and represent all ages and industries. They are farmers, bankers, professors, civil servants, and active and retired business people. Lasting two-to-four weeks, volunteer assignments focus on a range of topics, from training farmers’ associations in improved production techniques and post-harvest handling, to teaching cooperatives better financial management and marketing.

CNFA volunteers are supported by our highly trained local staff; assignments are provided along specific value chains, including legumes and horticulture, we focus on the needs at every level, from production to marketing, and working among a variety of stakeholders including farms and farmer cooperatives, agro-processors, financial institutions, industry associations, and government institutions. Through outreach and the storytelling of returned volunteers, F2F increases the broader American public’s understanding of international development issues and the critical importance of U.S. development programs.

Program Approach:

Since 2008, CNFA has been operating the Southern Africa Farmer-to-Farmer program. Our volunteers work with agribusinesses, extension agencies, cooperatives, and farmers to provide their expertise on topics including crop production, post-harvest handling and marketing of seeds, cooperative and association development, business plan development, and financial management.

The Farmer-to-Farmer program aims to:

  1. Increase agricultural sector productivity and profitability: CNFA’s strategic approach is founded on increasing smallholder productivity and profitability by targeting high-potential value chains in each target country;
  2. Improve conservation and sustainable use of environmental and natural resources: CNFA balances increased agricultural productivity and production with improved conservation and sustainable resource use. Examples of volunteer roles include: water management including water retention and water waste reduction, integrated pest management (IPM) and integrated soil fertility management;
  3. Expand agricultural sector access to financial services: CNFA links smallholder farmer organizations and SMEs with credit via appropriate channels, including micro-finance institutions, banks, supplier credit, leasing, equity investment, and blended capital from an increasing number of impact investors;
  4. Strengthen agricultural sector institutions: CNFA strengthens farmer organizations, including cooperatives and associations, local NGOs, industry associations that support improved input supply, and agricultural universities.

With the continued support of our dedicated volunteers, we look forward to providing technical assistance to farmers and entrepreneurs in Southern Africa through the F2F program.

For more information on impacts in one of our focus countries, or information on how to become a volunteer, please contact the F2F team at F2Finfo@cnfa.org.

Women managing community horticulture gardens to improve nutrition and diet for their families.

Kamwendo Cooking Oil Cooperative (KCOC) in Malawi proudly displays their product.

Aspiring Young Farmers in front of their family's field of legumes.

Armando Romero in front of Agrciultural Supply Store.

Mobilizing community support during intensive manual effort peaks helps to provide much needed labor.

Adding new baby chicks to the coop as part of smallholder diversification/poultry activities.

Farmer proudly shows off his ripening pineapple in Mozambique.

CNFA marketing specialist Bill Nichols discusses business strategy.

CNFA experts examining bean plant at Exagris farm in Malawi.

CNFA volunteer Bill Nichols (middle) teaches an accounting lesson at Dwangwa in Malalwi.

"Before the cooperative, every one worked as an individual - as a result we used to travel long distances as much as 100km to get agro-inputs. Through the volunteers, we now have a modern agrodealer center. We have also acquired important technical knowledge in banana production."

- Rosaflor, CAPIAD Dombe grande

Our Impact

40,000

Volunteer days spent on assignment

$44.2 million

leveraged in volunteer time, host contributions and host time

2,700

volunteers fielded by CNFA F2F in 21 countries
"With the help of the CNFA volunteers we are able to control our finances and maintain our books. We have also been drilled in banana production. We are also using the ideas we learnt in other areas of our farms."

- Pedro Manuel, Primeiro de Maio Cooperative