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:
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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.