Georgia – Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FtF)

Sharing Technical Expertise to Empower Farmers

In Georgia, ACDI/VOCA works with farmers, enterprises and organizations through the USAID-funded Farmer to Farmer (FtF) Program to improve skills by connecting hosts to expert volunteer consultants. FtF Georgia is part of a worldwide FtF initiative that seeks to develop and increase the sustainability of private agricultural enterprises, support organizations, and rural finance organizations. U.S. volunteers provide technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses and rural credit organizations in developing and transitional countries throughout the world.

Since 2003 ACDI/VOCA has fielded over 90 highly skilled volunteer consultants in Georgia through the FtF program. ACDI/VOCA’s volunteers share their technical knowledge with hosts, private farmers, and entrepreneurs to help them succeed in Georgia’s transitioning economic environment. Volunteers work with Georgians in a variety of small- and medium-scale agricultural enterprises involved in food production, processing, marketing and distribution. ACDI/VOCA and its consortium partners, Winrock International and Land O’Lakes, have a cooperative agreement with USAID to implement FtF in Georgia and across the Caucasus region through September 2008. FtF volunteers have extensive knowledge and many years of practical experience in their related technical area. Their assignments typically last two to three weeks.

ACDI/VOCA anticipates that work focused on private enterprises will enable technical assistance recipients to deliver high-quality products and services demanded by consumers as Georgia’s market environment continues to develop. Improvements in the products and services will, in turn, result in higher profits for the private enterprises and better wages for their employees. Through its volunteer activities, FtF has helped to raise the incomes of small and medium-sized farmers and enterprises in the Caucasus, concretely contributing to the economic development of the region.

FtF Impact

Beekeeping has been selected as one of the key agricultural subsectors with potential for enterprise development through skills training and technology upgrading. The FtF Georgia project has provided technical support on several occasions to farmer associations and demonstration farms. ACDI/VOCA volunteers Cesar Flores and Juan Artega provided technical assistance to beekeepers on general management of the beekeeping industry; introduction of new approaches and advanced technologies to enhance profitability and sustainability of the honey industry; and improvement of production techniques and overall apiary management technology. Specifically, Arteaga provided information and hands-on assistance on assembling “American style” beehives, which had not previously been used in Georgia. The Georgian beekeepers now have the opportunity to test and compare productivity results between the new American style beehives and their traditional style. The new beehives should prove to reduce manufacturing costs as well as increase honey production.

For more information contact Meredith Jones mjones@acdivoca.org.

Updated: 3/08

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