A Business Man in Haiti

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Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer, Andy Lohof, offered his business expertise this past December to help build the strategic management and business planning skills of a local farmers association. He specifically assisted the Association des Travallleurs de Dondon (ATD) in drafting a business plan that will make them economically competitive in the local and world economy. Andy organized and led group exercises and workshops to combine various inputs from the participants and ultimately create a new business plan that will improve efficiency and increase yields.

Workshop participants taking a group photo with Andy 

[Left] Andy recording ideas from workshop participants during a  brainstorming session [Right] Participants actively engaging in an exercise

Andy was a volunteer on this very same project back in 2014, and was moved to see that the President of ATD had already invoked some of the business management recommendations he had made. 

Andy requesting participants to share their ideas
While Andy advised ATD on ways they could improve their business model during this recent assignment, another Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer, Sarah Brinkley, was able to advise the company on ecological improvements that will improve coffee processing operations. Sarah was also able to share her knowledge about composting as well as pest and disease management strategies. Efforts such as these on the part of the volunteers have truly made a difference on the ground level operations.  

Looking forward, Andy is optimistic about the future of coffee production in the various coffee cooperatives around Haiti and within ATD itself. He is optimistic that the new business plan as well as the efforts put forth by other volunteers will help to make ATD successful.




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