In both numbers and antedotes, the impact of CNFA's Farmer-to-Farmer Program can be seen in the Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (ECCA) region. At the end of October 2010, CNFA had sent over 1,426 volunteers to Russia and the ECCA region under three different USAID contracts.Currently, volunteers travel to Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Previously volunteers have traveled to Russia and Kosovo. Volunteers' professional services have leveraged over $7.4 million and benefited hundreds of thousands of people both in the host countries and in the United States.
Under its current award, CNFA has sent 148 volunteers to the region and plans to send 440 volunteers in total at the end of the 5-year program.
Belarus: CNFA has sent 130 volunteers to Belarus since 2000, donating 2,217 work days. In this past year alone, CNFA sent 10 volunteers to work with a variety of non-profits, businesses and governmental organizations to offer specialized expertise to strengthen value chains and improve technical knowledge. From their efforts, over 43,000 people in the country benefited.
Georgia: Sixty volunteers have traveled to Georgia since 2009 under the USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer award. This past year, CNFA significantly increased its volunteers to the country, sending 37 volunteers. Volunteers donated 436 days and benefited almost 200,000 people in Georgia.
Moldova: CNFA has sent 333 volunteers to Moldova who have donated 5,736 volunteer days since 2000. This past year, CNFA sent 29 volunteers to the country working with agricultural professionals primarily in the fruit and vegetables and dairy sectors. Their efforts provided direct assistance to 700 professionals and potentially impacted almost 37,300 individuals.
Tajikistan: CNFA has sent 15 volunteers to Tajikistan under its current award. In 2010, CNFA sent 13 volunteers to the country, working with 9 hosts to improve production, post-harvest handling and marketing to help increase producer incomes and improve livelihoods. Volunteers in 2010 potentially impacted 13,700 people.
Ukraine: CNFA has been working in Ukraine since 1992 and has sent 610 volunteers to the country to assist host organizations, contributing 7,573 days. Under its current award, 10 volunteers have traveled to the region, directly assisting nearly 400 agricultural professionals, and potentially impacting over 5,400 individuals.
Uzbekistan: Under its current award, CNFA has worked with hosts in Uzbekistan to send 3 volunteers to the country to focus mainly on the fruit and vegetable value chain. This past year, CNFA sent 2 volunteers who potentially impacted nearly 250 individuals.
For measuring purposes, a "volunteer" signifies a single trip made overseas in which a specific assignment was completed. Potential beneficiaries include host clients, suppliers and family members.
Highlighted Success
Though the plethora of fresh fruits in the Republic of Georgia offer attractive economic opportunities to potential investors, many businesses are hindered by a lack of essential expertise in both production and sales. One such business is Geoconcentrate, a Georgian fruit processor that had invested in new equipment and attracted a new clientele, but realized it needed technical assistance to take the final step and enter new markets. CNFA and the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (FTF) Program were there to offer support. After two FTF volunteers worked with Geoconcentrate on processing technology and marketing, the firm has already increased production by 30 percent and hired 25 new employees to meet the new demand.
Geoconcentrate LLC is one of the largest enterprises in the city of Gori and has been involved in the fruit-processing business since 2007. It primarily produces and sells apple juice concentrate, natural fruit juices, and several fruit preserves. While the juice concentrate is primarily exported to Germany, most other final products serve domestic demand. In 2009, Geoconcentrate focused on improving both its technological production efficiency by updating the company’s processing equipment and developing a new marketing strategy. Ultimately, the company aimed to attract new clients, improve final product quality and income while minimizing its costs. Given the lack of applicable local expertise, Geoconcentrate requested foreign assistance to instruct its representatives. Read more.
More Stories of Success
Belarus: No-Till Farming Techniques Dramatically Increase Production in Belarus (PDF)
Belarus: Farmer-to-Farmer Program Increases Incomes in Belarus (PDF)
Belarus: Contented Cows Give Better Milk (PDF)
Belarus: Helping Private Farming Take Root in Belarus (PDF)
Tajikistan: Two Volunteers Reignite Apricot Industry in Tajikistan
Belarus: Volunteers Shape Future Leaders of Belarusian Agriculture
Georiga: Farmer-to-Farmer Program Strengthens Georgian Dairy Sector
Moldova: Human Resources Management Benefits Staff and Coop
Belarus: Spinning Compost into Gold (PDF)
Belarus: Volunteers Shape Future Leaders of Belarusian Agriculture
Belarus: Export-oriented Food Safety Trainings
Tajikistan: Two Volunteers Reignite Apricot Industry in Tajikistan
Georgia: Volunteer Assists with Greenhouse Production in Georgia (PDF)
Georgia: Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer Builds Customer Management System
Georgia: Farmer-to-Farmer Program Assists with Greenhouse Production in Georgia
Georgia: Georgian Cheese Company sets its sights high after successful FTF Assignments
Moldova: With CNFA Volunteers, Moldovan Cooperative Flourishes
Moldova: From Fruit to Cereal: Expanding Moldova's Possibilities (PDF)
Moldova: A New Home for Happy and Healthy Cows (PDF)
Moldova: MEAT-ing the Growing Demand for Fresh Meat in Moldova (PDF)
Moldova: Accessing New Markets for Moldovan Cannery (PDF)
Moldova: Preserving the Sweet Taste of Success (PDF)
Moldova: Modernizing Production: A Formula for Success (PDF)
Moldova: Seedless watermelons - An Emerging Opportunity for Moldovan farmers (PDF)
Moldova: Women Work Together to Overcome Challenges of Farming (PDF)
Moldova: US Volunteers Lend a Hand to Moldovan Dairy Farmers (PDF)
Moldova: Moldovan Fruit Dryers Cut Energy Costs (PDF)
Ukraine: Mushroom Growers Learn New Composting Methods (PDF)
Ukraine: Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteers Share Industry Best Practices with Dairy Farmers in Ukraine
Ukraine: To Market, To Market, To Sell a Fine Pig (PDF)
Ukraine: Quality Standards Ensure Improved Production and Sales (PDF)
Ukraine: Ukrainian Beekeeping Roundtable Highlighted (PDF)
Ukraine: Ukraine is Building Rural Credit Unions and Providing Farmers Credit (PDF)
Ukraine: Ukrainian Farmers Gain Access to Commercial Credit (PDF)
Ukraine: Ukrainian Beekeepers See More Honey, More Money (PDF)
Ukraine: Growth of Ukrainian Cannery Boosts Domestic Value-Chain (PDF)
Ukraine: Apple Growers Learn to Apply New Technologies (PDF)
Ukraine: Volunteers Help Modernize Orshivtsi Dairy Cooperative (PDF)
ECCA Volunteers in the Media
March 8, 2012: "Idaho food-safety expert volunteers in Belarus," Capital Press, Full Article.
April 18, 2010: "ISU Extension Agronomist Volunteers in Ukraine", The Des Moines Register, Full Article.
March 9, 2010: "Weston Food Consultant Offers Expertise in Moldova", The Weston Forum.com, Full Article.
March 4, 2010: "Irrigation Expert Kimmel Advises Farmers in Ukraine", Asheville Citizen Times, Full Article.
February 9, 2010: "Iowan Helps Out in Tajikistan", The Omaha World Herald, Full Article.
January 2010: Millennium Challenge Corporation blogs about CNFA-MCC project in Geogia: "MCC and USAID Bring Mechanization to Georgian Farmers" Full Entry.
December 28, 2009: "Volunteer demonstrates soil testing analysis in Republic of Georgia", The Richmond Register, Full Article.
Read more stories of Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers here.
