Presented bySequoia Ireland

Farmer-to-FarmerFebruary 6, 2019

• Over 65 years of international and co-op development in 89 countries

• $230 million portfolio of international programs in 21 countries, presently

International Development Program

In 2017/2018…

• 31 Projects in 21 Countries

• 3 million lives impacted

• Over 400,000 farmers, including 150,000 women

• Over 95,000 households

Our Practice Areas Define Our Expertise

• Nutrition Led Agriculture

• Climate Smart Agriculture

• Natural Resource Management

• Social Behavior Change Communication

• WASH

• Value Chain Development

• Agribusiness and Enterprise Development

• Marketing

• Financial Services

• Agriculture Production Technologies

• Youth Entrepreneurship

• Producer Groups

• Association/Cooperative Training

• Cooperative Business Management

• Cooperative Governance

• Coop-to-Coop Trade

• Cooperative Legal Frameworks and

• Advocacy

Farmer-to-Farmer ProgramOct 2018 – Oct 2023

Program Focus: Coffee Systems• Improve sustainable

practices in the coffee/cacao value chain

• Strengthen cooperatives, producer organizations (POs) and small agribusiness

• Promote horticulture enterprises

How Farmer-to-Farmer Works

Identify HO

that can

benefit from

volunteer

technical

assistance

Design 2 to 4

weeks long

volunteer

assignments

Identify

qualified

volunteers

Volunteer

assignment

with field

staff support

Volunteer

writes a

report and

provides

recommend

ations to HO

Field staff

follows up

with the HO

Volunteer Criteria• US citizen or green card holder• Technical skills and experience• 2 to 4 weeks availability in-country• Availability to virtually meet with field staff and/or host organization as

well as prepare training materials prior to the in-country assignment• Flexibility to work through unforeseen circumstances• Willingness to provide technical assistance in rudimentary conditions• Interest in cultural exchange in addition to technical exchange• Write a final report and provide host organization with recommendations

Types of Volunteer AssignmentsAgricultural Production and processing

techniques

Engineering Solar roaster, coffee waste water

Business skills Marketing, finance, business plans, etc.

Organizational development Governance, board training, member responsibilities, etc.

Flex Various countries/sectors

My Farmer-to Farmer Experience

Koalack Region VillagesThiamene Gapakh

Kakothie Nguindor

Trainings

• Composting

• Irrigation

• Soil Fertility

• Crop Rotation

• Recordkeeping

• Water management

• Mulching

Training

• Companion planting

• Based on plant family

• Organic pest control-

nematodes, spider mites,

“jaar,” neem

• Chili peppers paired

with tomatoes to

prevent nematodes

• Marigolds rotated for

tomatoes

Gapakh• Growing eggplant,

chili pepper, green pepper, cassava

Thiamene• Men are more

involved in this region; Madou

• Constructed a market to sell their products.

• Growing eggplant, mint, pumpkin, okra, tomato, cabbage, onion, cassava, dhimbu

• Rap, skit, sister scarf

Thiamene Village

Kakothie

• Growing tomato, cabbage, cassava, pumpkin

• Solar pump attached to the well is broken

• Children are helping with duties in the garden

Nguindor

• Growing papaya, cashews,

chili pepper, pumpkin,

cucumber

• Well maintained garden,

trees to prevent wind erosion

Entrance to Nguindor garden

Cola Nut

Hotel Relais in Koalack

Things I Learned

Village women are trying to marry you off and offer up their land

No shortage of men trying to be husbands

Storytelling is key

Open heart/mind is important

An American Abroad (AAA)

Thank You!

Sequoia IrelandFarmer-to-Farmer Recruiter

Sireland@ncba.coop