Growing Knowledge & Building Partnerships

Long-time rabbit producer, proud to receive new training and cages Toward the end of his visit to Haiti, Alabama volunteer Robert Spencer sent more photos for the blog. The photos tell the story of his activities in the field. In addition, he also visited the Deli Market and Mega Market - supermarket chains in Port-au-Prince - together with Ministry of Agriculture and Makouti representatives to discuss the opportunity of supplying quality meat to these stores. Finally, the team conducted trainings at the Ministry's rabbitry for the newly-created Western Producers' Rabbit Network on topics such as nutrient and health value of rabbit meat, its culinary appeal and various recipes, and best management practices for commercial meat processing. The network was represented by producers from 7 locations. Trainee's view of Robert's lesson in food safety in meat processing Anderson Pierre instructs on nest boxes, used to house young Trained producers received ...

As farmers and development practitioners well know, changes in weather, price fluctuations, and pests can combine to make the realities of agricultural projects different from what was originally envisioned. Therefore, Farmer to Farmer has recognized the importance of conducting thorough and impartial evaluations of its projects to ensure that they deliver what was promised. To better understand the outcomes of their activities, la Associacion para el Desarollo de San Jose de Ocoa (ADESJO) and Farmer to Farmer Dominican Republic requested a volunteer to evaluate a greenhouse project in the province of San Jose de Ocoa. Cesar Asuaje of the University of Florida traveled to the Dominican Republic in May 2012 to conduct this evaluation. Asuaje interviews a Greenhouse Association member ADESJO introduced the greenhouse project to San Jose de Ocoa by building two demonstration greenhouses in 2002. Currently, there are 38 greenhouses in the area operated by 17 w...

Volunteer Robert Spencer is in Haiti again, continuing his dedicated support to Makouti Agro Enterprise in helping to improve the meat processing and quality practices in Haiti. He writes of his experience over the past week: The team inserts feather plucking fingers. I have been volunteering my services in Haiti since 2006. I really do enjoy my time spent here, each visit is unique, and this time offered something totally different. During this visit to Cap Haitien I worked with Makouti Agro Enterprise on a project that supports opportunities for women in agriculture; more specifically, women raising chickens for meat production.  The concept, how it works, and successes are explained. Makouti identifies willing participants and provide them with the appropriate training. For a one time nominal fee Makouti agrees to provide participants with a portable poultry housing unit, necessary feed and equipment, and twenty baby chicks. When the birds reach an ideal marketing wei...

Guasto with teammate, Sid McGregor, visiting the PWAPA plant. Michelle Guasto traveled to Guyana on a video production team assignment in February 2012. She and teammate, Sid McGregor, filmed footage for a video demonstrating the requirements of a successful agro-processing plant. The video featured the Pomeroon Women's Agro-Processors Association (PWAPA), highlighting the women's success thus far as they move toward production for export as well as best practices in sanitation and food safety. The completed video will be shared with local fruit and vegetable processors for training and promotion purposes. This was Guasto's first trip outside of the United States, with the exception of a 4-hour road trip to Vancouver, Canada.  Farmer to Farmer asked Michelle a series of questions regarding her experience as a first-time traveler. Below are her answers. When you were first contacted about traveling to Guyana, what was your initial reaction?   MG:...

Kelly Young of the University of Arizona, who traveled to Nicaragua for her first Partners FTF assignment in June 2011, returned to the "Land of Lakes & Volcanoes" last month to carry out a second volunteer trip. This recent trip focused on food security, food safety and nutrition near the capital city of Managua and the municipalities of Sebaco and Camoapa. Middle school students prepare a raised seed bed using a car tire. Growing vegetables in backyard and school gardens are key ways to improve food security, improve nutrition and cut food costs. Over the course of her 2-week visit, Kelly provided hands-on gardening training to more than 180 youth and adults to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve these three major benefits. Trainings focused on soil preparation, composting, planting techniques, crop maps, irrigation, integrated pest management, and seed-saving. Vegetable growers display their certificates following a day-long tra...

One goal of the Farmer to Farmer Program is to expose Americans to the people and farming systems of developing countries. Below are some quotes from volunteers, as they share personal reflections on Partners'  Farmer to Farmer   Program and the difference it has made in their lives. Girls perform traditional Nicaraguan dance for FTF volunteer “Well, last full day here in Guyana and I've got to say it's been an amazing trip and the Farmer to Farmer program appears to really be making a difference here in Georgetown and the surrounding areas. In fact, speaking with people from the American and Canadian embassies, it appears to be one program that really stands out as being affective and 'well worth the time and effort of the US Government.'”   - Derek C., Environmental Services Analyst with the City of Sioux City, FTF-Guyana volunteer (Crop Nursery Management) "I thank the Farmer to Farmer Program for connecting me with the people of Nicaragua. ...

Partners of the America's table at the Expo Hall The National Peace Corps Association held its first national conference in Minneapolis, MN, June 29- July 1st.  More than 200 Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) from across the country attended.  On Friday, June 29th the National Peace Corps Association President, Kevin F.F. Quigley (RPCV, Thailand) welcomed all attendees during the opening ceremony luncheon.  Mr. Stacy Rhodes, Peace Corps Chief of Staff shared updates on ongoing efforts to improve volunteer trainings while also supporting the highest number of current volunteers in the field. Bruce McNamer (RPCV, Colombia) was the keynote speaker at the welcoming luncheon. Mr. McNamer is the President and CEO of TechnoServe, a non-profit economic development organization that helps entrepreneurial men and women in the developing world to build businesses that provide jobs, income and economic opportunity. ...

Example of a top-bar hive. Today marks the beginning of Tom Hebert's month-long volunteer assignment in St. Mary, Jamaica, a parish located in the northeast section of the country. Mr. Hebert, Owner and Manager of his own beekeeping enterprise in Intibucá, Honduras and Moderator for a top-bar hive forum on Beesource.com., will be providing instruction to both novice and more experienced beekeepers on the ins and outs of top-bar beekeeping. Why top-bar? Mr. Hebert's host and Yerba Buena Farm Owner, Agape Adams, explains the difficulty of obtaining foundation for traditional Langstroth hives in Jamaica. "In America, any beekeeper can purchase as many sheets of foundation as they need to increase the number of hives they have in their apiary. In Jamaica, it is not so easy. In order to get foundation, beekeepers must bring in wax to exchange for an equal weight of foundation. In order to grow, farmers raid wild hives and use the wax they remove to exchange for extr...