Where We Work
F2F Ethiopia
Crops: F2F Ethiopia is working along cereal, pulse, and horticultural value chains to strengthen education, research and extension capabilities. The project also focuses on productivity improvement, access to markets and credit, product processing and value addition, and nutritional security. Furthermore, volunteers work to strengthen farmers’ associations, cooperatives, and private sector enterprises through technology transfer and business management trainings.
Livestock: F2F Ethiopia is working in the livestock sector addressing low productivity, weak farmers’ organizations, seasonal price volatility, poor milk processing and value addition, underdeveloped market linkages, and limited access to finance and credit. The project targets dairy, poultry, small ruminants, and beef. CRS hopes to leverage the large export markets, the developing private sector, and multiple partnerships to strengthen its interventions.
F2F Uganda
Agribusiness: F2F Uganda works in agribusiness value chains addressing low production, post-harvest losses, value addition, low farmer market engagement, poor access to credit, and weak farmers’ organizations. F2F volunteer assignments also focus on cross-cutting issues of growing youth populations and gender mainstreaming.
Livestock: F2F Uganda works in the livestock sector addressing low productivity, limited value addition, low quality products, limited access to credit and finance, and weak farmers’ organizations. The project includes meat cattle, dairy, and poultry. Producers are the core beneficiaries of volunteer assistance that has improved their animal husbandry practices, animal health, feed production, feed conservation, milking and milk hygiene. This effort also focuses on cross-cutting issues of growing youth populations and gender mainstreaming.
F2F Nepal
Crops: F2F Nepal is working in the crops sub-sector addressing issues of low productivity, post-harvest handling, weak farmers’ organizations, underdeveloped market linkages, and limited access to finance, credit and trade services. Vegetables, legumes (green beans, lentils), rice, and maize have been identified as potential strategic crops for the project. This effort also focuses on cross-cutting issues of growing youth populations and gender mainstreaming.
Livestock: F2F Nepal works in the livestock sector addressing low productivity, limited value addition, underdeveloped market linkages, limited access to credit and finance, and weak farmers’ organizations. The project includes dairy (cow, buffalo and Yak), goat, fish, poultry and honeybees as strategic livestock commodities. The livestock sector has the potential to provide opportunities for youth and women to engage in various activities along different livestock value chains.
F2F Benin
Cashew: Farmer to Farmer (F2F) Benin is working towards greater inclusivity in the cashew nut sub-sector by increasing productivity and profitability in the cashew nut value chain and increasing participation in markets and trade. Volunteers are working closely with farmer cooperatives, microfinance institutions, and cashew nut and cashew apple processors, and have provided assistance towards improving orchard productivity, efficiencies in processing of cashew nuts and cashew apples as well as improving operational efficiency.
Soybean: F2F is working to improve agricultural practices and expand markets and trade in the soybean value chain. Volunteers deliver trainings to help increase productivity, strengthen producer organizations, and increase access to credit and markets, and increase processing capacity. The project is particularly targeting women and youth. In FY21, F2F included pineapples under this country project, and has been supporting farmers through assistance on improved production techniques, processing and access to markets.
F2F Timor-Leste
Modernizing Agriculture: F2F Timor-Leste is working in the general agriculture sector in the country program focusing on horticulture, livestock (pig and poultry), konjac, coconut and candlenut value chains. Volunteer assignments address low productivity, inadequate value addition, malnutrition, and underdeveloped market linkages. CRS has endeavored to work with organizations with high numbers of women and youth to ensure movement toward more gender equitable solutions.
F2F Rwanda
Horticulture: F2F Rwanda anticipates improving the country’s horticulture sector by addressing low production, post-harvest losses, weak farmer cooperatives, and food and nutrition security. Volunteers are working to improve these areas through organizational capacity development, transfer of improved productivity and processing technologies.
Maize: F2F Rwanda is supporting the country’s maize sector by addressing low production, post-harvest losses, pests and diseases, and the skills gap in productivity and profitability. Volunteers meet these needs by providing support in the areas of production, productivity, and organizational capacity development.
F2F Kenya
Development, application, and expansion of digital financial services for women and youth in agriculture
1. Enhancing bankability by providing pre-loan business and financial management support and improving productivity and market access.
2. Catalyzing product innovation by building the capacity of financial institutions to develop products, apply technology, and expand market outreach for agricultural lending.
3. Providing post-loan support by coaching borrowers to manage cash, repay loans, increase savings, and improve production and sales.
F2F Tanzania
Capacity building, training, access to technology, and innovative financial products to support women and youth in agriculture.
1. Enhancing bankability by providing pre-loan business and financial management support and improving productivity and market access.
2. Catalyzing product innovation by building the capacity of financial institutions to develop products, apply technology, and expand market outreach for agricultural lending.
3. Providing post-loan support by coaching borrowers to manage cash, repay loans, increase savings, and improve production and sales.
F2F Sri Lanka
Training for farmers, agribusinesses, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions, and creating linkages and increasing access to finance, focusing on the horticulture and dairy sectors.
1. Enhancing bankability by providing pre-loan business and financial management support and improving productivity and market access.
2. Catalyzing product innovation by building the capacity of financial institutions to develop products, apply technology, and expand market outreach for agricultural lending.
3. Providing post-loan support by coaching borrowers to manage cash, repay loans, increase savings, and improve production and sales.
F2F Egypt
Egypt, Bangladesh, and Lebanon face considerable food safety and quality challenges. To increase productivity and profitability in the agriculture sectors, Land O’Lakes International Development is implementing F2F FSQ to address the important issues of food safety and quality with highly qualified volunteers. Volunteers assist and train others on good agricultural, veterinary and manufacturing practices in order to improve the local food safety protocols and quality assurance systems from “field-to-fork.” The program will aim to work with agro-processors, associations, producers, exporters and other partners and assist them in achieving greater market access. Volunteers and the country staff work in each country to increase the awareness of the Farmer-to-Farmer program to build deeper connections to the communities we are supporting. We also support, coach and mentor our returned volunteers on how they can best share their experiences with personal and professional networks.
To ensure that safer foods reach markets in Egypt, Bangladesh, and Lebanon, Land O’Lakes International Development is leading a five-year, $6.25 million Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program. Land O’Lakes will complete 213 assignments, which will be specifically designed to enhance food safety and quality across the three core countries. Funded by USAID, F2F initiatives generate rapid, sustained and broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector. These programs also promote international goodwill, an understanding of U.S. foreign assistance programs, and private involvement in development activities.
Since 1987, we have sent more than 1,400 U.S. highly qualified volunteers — including 160 of our affiliate Land O’Lakes, Inc. staff and cooperative members — on assignments in 27 countries. As a quality-driven food company, Land O’Lakes, Inc. is uniquely positioned to drive improvements in food safety and quality by offering a broad range of agricultural technical expertise on a voluntary basis, including improved agri-business management, quality assurance, improved policy and regulatory regimes, and production and post-harvest activities.
F2F Lebanon
Lebanon, Egypt, and Bangladesh face considerable food safety and quality challenges. To increase productivity and profitability in the agriculture sectors, Land O’Lakes International Development is implementing F2F FSQ to address the important issues of food safety and quality with highly qualified volunteers. Volunteers assist and train others on good agricultural, veterinary and manufacturing practices in order to improve the local food safety protocols and quality assurance systems from “field-to-fork.” The program will aim to work with agro-processors, associations, producers, exporters and other partners and assist them in achieving greater market access. Volunteers and the country staff work in each country to increase the awareness of the Farmer-to-Farmer program to build deeper connections to the communities we are supporting. We also support, coach and mentor our returned volunteers on how they can best share their experiences with personal and professional networks.
To ensure that safer foods reach markets in Lebanon, Egypt, and Bangladesh, Land O’Lakes International Development is leading a five-year, $6.25 million Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program. Land O’Lakes will complete 213 assignments, which will be specifically designed to enhance food safety and quality across the three core countries. Funded by USAID, F2F initiatives generate rapid, sustained and broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector. These programs also promote international goodwill, an understanding of U.S. foreign assistance programs, and private involvement in development activities.
Since 1987, we have sent more than 1,400 U.S. highly qualified volunteers — including 160 of our affiliate Land O’Lakes, Inc. staff and cooperative members — on assignments in 27 countries. As a quality-driven food company, Land O’Lakes, Inc. is uniquely positioned to drive improvements in food safety and quality by offering a broad range of agricultural technical expertise on a voluntary basis, including improved agri-business management, quality assurance, improved policy and regulatory regimes, and production and post-harvest activities.
F2F Bangladesh
Bangladesh, Egypt and Lebanon face considerable food safety and quality challenges. To increase productivity and profitability in the agriculture sectors, Land O’Lakes International Development is implementing F2F FSQ to address the important issues of food safety and quality with highly qualified volunteers. Volunteers assist and train others on good agricultural, veterinary and manufacturing practices in order to improve the local food safety protocols and quality assurance systems from “field-to-fork.” The program will aim to work with agro-processors, associations, producers, exporters and other partners and assist them in achieving greater market access. Volunteers and the country staff work in each country to increase the awareness of the Farmer-to-Farmer program to build deeper connections to the communities we are supporting. We also support, coach and mentor our returned volunteers on how they can best share their experiences with personal and professional networks.
To ensure that safer foods reach markets in Bangladesh, Egypt, and Lebanon, Land O’Lakes International Development is leading a five-year, $6.25 million Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program. Land O’Lakes will complete 213 assignments, which will be specifically designed to enhance food safety and quality across the three core countries. Funded by USAID, F2F initiatives generate rapid, sustained and broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector. These programs also promote international goodwill, an understanding of U.S. foreign assistance programs, and private involvement in development activities.
Since 1987, we have sent more than 1,400 U.S. highly qualified volunteers — including 160 of our affiliate Land O’Lakes, Inc. staff and cooperative members — on assignments in 27 countries. As a quality-driven food company, Land O’Lakes, Inc. is uniquely positioned to drive improvements in food safety and quality by offering a broad range of agricultural technical expertise on a voluntary basis, including improved agri-business management, quality assurance, improved policy and regulatory regimes, and production and post-harvest activities.
F2F Ecuador
NCBA CLUSA Farmer-to-Farmer provides technical assistance around the cacao and coffee value chains around the coastal and Amazonian regions of Ecuador. Expert volunteers that travel to Ecuador focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening associations, producer organizations, and rural businesses. By improving the sustainability of agricultural practices in the cacao and coffee system, the program producers can increase the profitability, production, and export potential of coffee and cacao. Cacao farms give way to other opportunities that can increase economic revenue for smallholders in country. F2F through NCBA-CLUSA has reached 9 coffee cooperatives, farmer association and groups and 9 cacao cooperatives, farmer associations and groups. Through which it has been able to reach countless coffee and cacao farmer families.
F2F Peru
The Farmer-to-Farmer cacao and coffee systems assignments in Peru aim to build the capacity of producers, cooperatives and other value chain actors and enterprises. This has been accomplished in the regions of San Martin and Huanuco by working with 20 producer organizations and 10 active partnerships including Technoserve, TRIAS, Progreso, Universidad Nacional de San Martin, and others. With the completion of 34 volunteer assignments, US volunteers have provided training on material ranging from organic certification and plague management, to marketing, sales, and exports. Additionally, F2F Peru has recorded the successful application of more than 50 volunteer SMART recommendations and promoted sustainability by involving local organizations and local universities in research and knowledge exchange.
F2F Guyana
Horticulture Production and Marketing Project: The objective of the Horticulture Production and Marketing project strategy is to increase the productivity and profitability of select horticulture sub-sectors, primarily focusing on shade house vegetable production and marketing. Additionally, the project seeks to increase the organizational and management capacity of participating producers and producer groups by training smallholder farmers in a wide array of areas including climate-smart agriculture practices, shade house production, hydroponics, water management, plant health, farm management, postharvest handling, and labeling and packaging.
Livestock Production and Marketing Project: The objective of the Livestock Production and Marketing project strategy is to develop systems that increase the traceability and certification of livestock entities/farms and livestock products. The project also seeks to build the capacity of Guyana’s livestock producers and producer groups in meat processing and safety and quality standards to improve their competitiveness in domestic and international markets. Volunteers provide training in traceability systems, good agricultural practices (GAP), reproductive health management, veterinary medicine, meat quality and safety, marketing, processing, and animal nutrition.
F2F Jamaica
Rural Adaptation and Resilience Project: The objective of the Rural Adaptation and Resilience project strategy is to increase the resilience of vulnerable populations to the impacts of changing climate and weather patterns. The project involves a crosscutting approach, focused primarily on rural agricultural communities, to increase awareness, build capacity, and promote mitigation and adaptation strategies that confront the detrimental effects that environmental variability has on Jamaica’s agriculture sector. Volunteers are training smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs in a wide array of areas including plant health, professionalizing farm management, organizational development, market linkages, postharvest handling, and labeling and packaging.
Livestock and Aquaculture Project: The objective of the Livestock and Aquaculture project strategy is to foster the development of the Jamaican cattle and small ruminant industries with an emphasis on herd expansion, increased production and productivity, and the processing and marketing of beef and dairy products. The objective also includes the expansion of freshwater and ocean aquaculture. Volunteers help farmers increase their share in domestic markets while also aiding in the entrepreneurship of new livestock and aquaculture producers to improve their resiliency via conservation and protection of natural resources.
F2F Dominican Republic
Rural Adaptation and Resilience Country Project: The objective of the Rural Adaptation and Resilience project is to increase the resilience of vulnerable populations to the unpredictable impacts of changing climate and weather patterns. This project involves a cross-cutting approach, focused primarily in the Yaque del Norte watershed, to increase awareness, build capacity, and promote mitigation and adaptation strategies. Volunteers engage smallholder farmers and rural communities in discussions regarding the changing climate and weather patterns and train them in adaptation strategies including conservation agriculture, soil and water conservation, cover crops, companion crops, contour planting, shelterbelts, and integrated pest management, among other topics.
Youth in Agriculture Development Project: The objective of the Youth in Agricultural Development project strategy is to incentivize and strengthen youth participation in the Dominican agriculture industry. Because this population will soon be supporting the economic and social development of the nation, the project strategy seeks to help Dominican youth achieve success as agricultural professionals. Volunteers train hosts and partner organizations in methodologies that utilize experiential learning to cover a wide array of agriculture and agribusiness topics including management, governance and transparency, leadership, record keeping, marketing, feasibility studies, and business plan development. Volunteers also build youth knowledge on financial services and ICT platforms to improve productivity, business and financial management, and marketing.
F2F Guatemala
Rural Enterprise Development Project: The objective of the Rural Enterprise Development project strategy is to increase incomes and sustainability of entrepreneurs and agricultural enterprises across value chains in Guatemala. This includes improving farming products and services for small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening agribusinesses and enterprises for economic growth, expanding market linkages and access to market information for small-scale rural producers, and increasing access to credit. Volunteer assignments include processing, packaging, food safety, marketing, business development, recordkeeping, and targeting current limitations - particularly affecting women and rural producers - to accessing credit through training in financial literacy, ICT and mobile money platforms, as well as technological innovations to obtain agricultural information.
High-Value Horticulture Project: The objective of the High-Value Horticulture project strategy is to strengthen smallholder farmer productivity, competitiveness, postharvest handling, and resilience in high-value, non-traditional horticultural crops – including, but not limited to, coffee, tree fruits, mushrooms, potatoes, onions, snow peas, and squash. Volunteers train farmers, entrepreneurs, and micro/small/medium enterprises on topics such as postharvest handling and processing, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), quality standards and control, improved processing technologies and practices, packaging, and labeling.
F2F Colombia
Rural Enterprise Development Project: The objective of the Rural Enterprise Development project is to support the development, application, and expansion of financial, commercial, and technical agricultural services in Colombia for smallholder farmers to generate sustainable economic growth and job creation. More specifically, the objectives are to expand agricultural sector access to financial services and to increase agricultural sector productivity and profitability. Volunteer assignments include training in value-added processing, food safety, packaging, and marketing, as well as business development, management, governance, leadership, financial planning, and recordkeeping.
F2F Morocco
The HAF USAID Farmer-To-Farmer (F2F) program in Morocco promotes sustainable economic growth, food security, and agricultural development with the Moroccan communities. Volunteer technical assistance from U.S. farmers, agribusiness, cooperatives, universities helps host organizations to improve productivity, access new markets, and conserve environmental and natural resources. This people-to-people exchange promotes international goodwill, understanding of U.S. programs, and private involvement in development activities. F2F volunteers work with farmers, producer groups, rural businesses, and service providers to develop local capacity necessary to increase food production and rural incomes, expand economic growth, and address environmental and natural resource management challenges.
F2F Philippines
Farmer-to-Farmer Capacity-Building of the Coconut Subsector (F2F COCOS) is a technical assistance program being implemented by Grameen Foundation in the Philippines as a sub-awardee of Partners of the Americas and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is committed to engaging 64 US volunteers with varying expertise to respond to the needs of various organizations in promoting sustainable improvements in food security and agriculture processing, production, and marketing. It is a four-year program supporting coconut and cacao farmers, giving priority to the coconut-rich areas of Davao, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Laguna, and Quezon. Its implementation period is from July 10, 2019, to March 1, 2023.
F2F Ghana
Postharvest Quality – to address issues of postharvest waste, quality control, and value addition to increase availability of nutritious foods and food products, improve food safety, and increase incomes (especially for women & youth)
F2F Guinea
Improved Agriculture Education and Training – working with schools, public and private extension providers, and farmers groups to successfully equip a cadre of trainers and young people to address agriculture challenges
Rural Livelihood Development – to expand livelihood opportunities for rural smallholders (particularly women & youth) by enabling them to diversify income streams, add value, and meet market expectations
F2F Mali
Rural Livelihood Development – to expand livelihood opportunities for rural smallholders (particularly women & youth) by enabling them to diversify income streams, add value, and meet market expectations
F2F Nigeria
Improved Agriculture Education and Training – working with schools, public and private extension providers, and farmers groups to successfully equip a cadre of trainers and young people to address agriculture challenges
F2F Senegal
Improved Agriculture Education and Training – working with schools, public and private extension providers, and farmers groups to successfully equip a cadre of trainers and young people to address agriculture challenges
Postharvest Quality – to address issues of postharvest waste, quality control, and value addition to increase availability of nutritious foods and food products, improve food safety, and increase incomes (especially for women & youth)
F2F Trinidad and Tobago
The Purdue F2F program, in collaboration with the University of West Indies – St. Augustine (UWI), proposes a dual approach to build capacity for the public and private extension community and empowers farmers by providing them with an array of technical expertise. This expertise will help enhance nutrition and health, increase food safety, add value to produce and marketing, help farmers respond to the changing environment, and address many other challenges.
F2F Cambodia
The F2F Cambodian Sustainable Intensification project promotes the integration and productivity of vegetables, fruit, and livestock into food systems through demand-driven technical exchanges. F2F Cambodia pursues a strategy of sustainable intensification that builds incrementally on existing practices in Cambodia and results in increased income and improved nutrition for farm families. This draws on a “toolkit” of enabling interventions, including improving soil health, managing water resources, improving access to germplasm, promoting integrated pest management, and strengthening crop rotations through new livestock grazing regimes. F2F Cambodia also supports host-organizations to improve their agricultural education and extension programming and services.
F2F Honduras
NCBA-CLUSA Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program in Honduras provides technical assistance in the coffee value chain through assignments focused on technical and organizational capacity building. This has allowed 10 coffee cooperatives to improve their productivity, gain access to new markets and implement environmentally conscious and sustainable practices in their farming activities. F2F Honduras aims to continue building the capacities of producers, cooperatives, and other value chain actors to improve sustainable coffee supply and value chains. Through F2F trainings in Honduras, NCBA CLUSA has reached over 200 coffee farmers of which 42% are women and 18% are young farmers. F2F operations primarily focused on the west of the country where most of the Coffee is grown. With the help of F2F’s expert volunteers, the variety of SMART recommendations made have allowed for continued and long-term change in these regions.
F2F BAHAMAS
Food Security & Extension: F2F Bahamas implemented by Convoy of Hope seeks to increase food security in the Bahamas and support local agricultural production. Throughout the duration of the program, 18 Agriculture experts will conduct seminars and workshops on fundamental production topics and methods. Additionally, experts will tailor their trainings to two specific audiences: producers growing for income and those growing for personal consumption. Through skills training and professional development, F2F Bahamas will promote income generation, create a more stable market for locally grown produce, and cultivate resilience to shocks such as COVID-19 and natural disasters.
F2F UZBEKISTAN
Agribusinesses in Horticulture: F2F Uzbekistan provides targeted technical support focused on organizational capacity building and process improvements of agribusinesses involved in horticulture export in the Fergana Valley, to increase productivity and profitability while strengthening agriculture sector institutions. CRDF Global has identified six Uzbek agribusinesses to receive targeted technical support. Nine US volunteers will go on technical assignments to provide hands-on training to support improvements in organizational capacity building and agricultural production, processing, and marketing.
F2F GUATEMALA
Cardamom Drying: Engineers Without Borders USA and Engineers Without Borders USA’s Guatemala Country Office (Ingenieros Sin Fronteras Guatemala) are working together with Cardamom dryers in Guatemala to improve their drying process. Guatemala is the world’s largest cardamom exporter with over 350,000 smallholder farmers dependent on cardamom as their primary source of income. This program will partner 12 experienced US volunteers with small holder farmers in the department of Alta Verapaz to carry out in-depth engineering assignments at drying facilities and deliver recommendations as well as training to improve both drying equipment and processes. These recommendations can lead to reduced processing costs as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and decreased deforestation through the more efficient use of fuel.