AID cooperative agreement no. PDC-0705-A-00-1078-00 with Winrock International Institute for support of the farmer to farmer program

volunteer farmers share their expertise in agricultural technology and management with farmers in developing countries. Winrock will recruit some 130 U.S. volunteer farmers, extensionists, and other agriculturalists who will provide TA to more than 120 farmer or agricultural organizations (with a total membership of over 4,500 farmers) in Eastern Europe, Mexico/Central America, and southern Africa (at least three countries per region). The program will include "consciousness raising" training of volunteers to enable them to illustrate democratic principles at work in their interactions with host country farmers and organizations. In addition, Winrock will maintain a database on potential volunteers in five broad areas of agriculture (environment, forestry, crop production, animal husbandry, and agribusiness). A program goal will be to include 25% women and minority volunteers. Winrock will implement the program in collaboration with the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation in the United States (which will help in recruiting volunteers) and with local NGOs in the host countries who will promote the program and select beneficiary farmers. Beneficiary farmer networks will be established in the three targeted regions. Countries approved for support so far are Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Malawi (Lesotho).