Farmer-to-Farmer is a USAID-funded initiative, which sends American agricultural/agribusiness experts to developing countries to offer technical assistance to our host organizations. These trips are volunteer-based, but all trip-related expenses are covered by CNFA, and typically last between two and three weeks.
Magave cooperative is located in the village of Wolongo in M’Banza Kongo, Angola, and consists of 35 members. The cooperative board controls 1500 hectares, of which only 214 hectares of land are used for production. They grow fruits, vegetables and legumes, such as bananas, oranges, lemons, mangoes, papayas, tomatoes, green pepper, eggplants, okra, leaf cabbage, head cabbage, common beans, soybeans, cassava and maize.Their farming methods are also well mechanized, as the cooperative uses tractors, rotators, planters, a seed drill, etc.
Magave cooperative intends to expand the area under fruit production by 50%, however, there are some problems hindering the fruit farming industry in the Magave cooperative; primarily citrus disease such as citrus canker, melanose, creasy spot, sooty mold, root rot, and insects like: aphids, citrus, whitefly, orange dog caterpillars, citrus thrips, and brown soft scale. The cooperative hopes to start growing in green houses and introduce fruit grafting methods; in addition, the farmers hope that good farming methods may enable the farmer to extend the idea to the neighboring communities, and start providing citrus plants to farmers in M’banza Congo. The cooperative has requested assistance from a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer provide technical assistance in training his farm members on citrus nursery management.