Farmers
weed their groundnut field in Chivi. Photo credit: David Nyoni, ENSURE
weed their groundnut field in Chivi. Photo credit: David Nyoni, ENSURE
TellZim
Reporter
Reporter
HARARE – The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) yesterday, May 30, launched the five-year
USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program for the years 2018-2023 at Africa Synod
House in Harare.
International Development (USAID) yesterday, May 30, launched the five-year
USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program for the years 2018-2023 at Africa Synod
House in Harare.
There were representatives
from the), the Government of Zimbabwe, a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer, and
implementing organization Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA).
from the), the Government of Zimbabwe, a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer, and
implementing organization Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA).
The representatives
reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening agriculture and resilience
in Zimbabwe.
reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening agriculture and resilience
in Zimbabwe.
The USAID-funded John
Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program provides technical
assistance by highly qualified American volunteers to farmers, farmer groups,
agribusinesses, and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and
transitional countries.
Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program provides technical
assistance by highly qualified American volunteers to farmers, farmer groups,
agribusinesses, and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and
transitional countries.
The program aims to
generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector
and increase understanding of international development issues and U.S.
development programs through people-to-people diplomacy.
generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector
and increase understanding of international development issues and U.S.
development programs through people-to-people diplomacy.
In Zimbabwe, the program
will focus on horticulture, legumes and livestock/dairy value chains due to
their potential to benefit many farmers and earn high returns on investment.
will focus on horticulture, legumes and livestock/dairy value chains due to
their potential to benefit many farmers and earn high returns on investment.
Through 84 volunteer
assignments, the program will catalyze the development of commercially viable
and sustainable businesses along these value chains.
assignments, the program will catalyze the development of commercially viable
and sustainable businesses along these value chains.
The volunteers will support
the efforts of current US government-funded agricultural programs working with
farmers, aggregators, processors, and marketers.
the efforts of current US government-funded agricultural programs working with
farmers, aggregators, processors, and marketers.
The training and support
provided through Farmer-to-Farmer will focus on improved production and
processing technologies, strengthening organizational and marketing capacity of
agribusinesses, and promoting the use of conservation agriculture.
provided through Farmer-to-Farmer will focus on improved production and
processing technologies, strengthening organizational and marketing capacity of
agribusinesses, and promoting the use of conservation agriculture.
Over the course of the
five-year program, volunteers will train thousands of small-holder farmers to
increase sales and learn how to do farming as a business in order to increase
household incomes, strengthen livelihoods, and build community resilience.
five-year program, volunteers will train thousands of small-holder farmers to
increase sales and learn how to do farming as a business in order to increase
household incomes, strengthen livelihoods, and build community resilience.
have contributed over $3 billion in assistance to Zimbabwe for a period of over
30 years.
Current
projects include initiatives to increase food security, support economic
resilience, improve health systems and services, and promote a more democratic
system of governance.
projects include initiatives to increase food security, support economic
resilience, improve health systems and services, and promote a more democratic
system of governance.
