USAID John Ogonowski

     Farmer-to-Farmer Program

Volume 1, Issue 4, February 2005

Financial Cost Control and Marketing of Products Nicaragua

Volunteer Rebecca Silva,  Director of Finance/Administration for DPK Consulting, visited Nicaragua to help cooperatives of bean seed producers develop a business plan that would make them more competitive and efficient, contributing to better standards of living and poverty reduction for hundreds of people. She traveled to the Nicaraguan Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) on the south Pacific coast, which, until her trip, had provided only technical agricultural assistance. She taught basic elements of accounting and marketing, and prepared an action plan giving general recommendations. Rebecca prepared a draft business plan for the cooperatives to complete. Without a  business plan, it is almost impossible for the rural poor to get access to credit, which can leverage them into prosperity.

This fulfilled a personal goal of hers: “Providing training and financing to micro and small business owners has always seemed to me to be the best way to erode the extreme difference between the rich and the poor in developing countries. This was my first opportunity to work directly with the very poor and semi-literate in the farming sector to provide this type of training.” Rebecca feels that she contributed to improving the quality of  life for the farmers and their families. More volunteers are needed, see current assignments available under “Volunteer Opportunities”.

Rambutan Packaging and

Marketing Assistance- Honduras

Forrest Gordon, South Florida entrepreneur and tropical fruit grower, traveled to La Ceiba, Honduras, where farmers are growing the exotic fruit rambutan, and want to penetrate  the international market. Rambutan is a relative of the lychee, which Forrest raises on his farm in the Redlands, and the post-harvest process and marketing are similar for both fruits. The  Asian community is quite fond of the rambutan, and its commercial potential presents a unique opportunity for economic development to farmers and their communities in Honduras.

Forrest spent part of his stay meeting with staff and growers from The Centro Universitario Regional  del Litoral Atlantico (CURLA), and traveled to the communities of Lancetilla, San Pedro Sula, El Pino, La Masica, and Tela.  His knowledge was valuable to farmers, as he consulted them about grafting new varieties of rambutan, proper irrigation and fertilization, and pruning trees for increased production; visiting their groves and offering practical advice. Forrest met with rambutan growers and packers, discussing proper picking and handling methods, as well as best practices for care of the fruit before arrival at the packing house.  He helped them better their packaging and presentation of the fruit for retail sale. Forrest spoke with farmers about which varieties  of the fruit are better for the international market, and looked at their groves, where he shared his knowledge and experience of farming practices to increase production. Forrest felt welcomed in Honduras, and found the people warm, friendly, and hospitable. They were extremely interested in bettering their infant rambutan industry, as well as growing other tropical fruits which could have international appeal.  Forrest felt privileged to participate in this mission, and the trip was a smashing success for all!

Recent Volunteer Projects

Project News

Carmen Algeciras, Florida International University’s USAID Programs Coordinator, has just returned from visiting Honduras to see the impact of work done by volunteers on FIU’s Farmer to Farmer Program (FTF) assignments. In a this beautiful tropical country,  organizations are receiving high quality professional volunteers who provide assistance which improves the daily lives of people in the agricultural sector. Among the many projects Carmen visited in a week were two dairy

processing facilities where local farmers take their milk to be sold and processed. Because of our volunteers’ efforts, farmers are producing better quality milk and receiving higher prices for it. She visited one of the farmers, Mr. Heriberto Paz, who milks 15 Holstein cows, producing 240 liters per day. Volunteers helped him and others with best milking practices, and as a result, their milk is ranked first place in quality, thus allowing them to get paid the maximum price for their milk. The impact of one volunteer is amazing, and Carmen was pleased to witness the positive effects of so many of our volunteers in Honduras. Contact us to find out how you can be a volunteer!

 

This newsletter was made possible through support provided by the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Award No. EDH-A-00-03-00022-00. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

In partnership with:

 

Volunteer Opportunities

 

Guatemala

Avocado Irrigation System Specialist

Avocado Harvest and Post Harvest Handling

Ornamental Plants, Foliage and Flowers- Fertilization and Irrigation

Training in Vanilla Drying Process

Post-Harvest, Packing & Bailing of Ornamental Plants Workshop

Strategic Plan Evaluation

Avocado Pruning Management

 

Honduras

Milk Derivative Packaging and Brand Training

Training in Mango Commercialization and Marketing

Financial Advisor in Raising Beef Cattle and Cow/Calf Operations

Business Plan and Marketing Development for FINACOOP (microfinance)

Establishing a Milk Processing Plant Feasibility Analysis

Support in Marketing for the Feasibility of Establishing a Milk Processing Plant

Technical Support in Designing a Milk Processing Plant

Salt Water Tilapia and Shrimp Farm Training

 

El Salvador

Strategic Planning for Horticultural Farm

Technical and Economic Viability of Agro-industrial Plant

Identification of Potato Disease

Tropical Ornamental Plants Nutritional Needs and Best Practices

Achiote (Annatto) Natural Colorants and Pigments Market Analysis

Follow-up Training for Greenhouse Vegetable Production

      Post-Harvest Management of Fresh Vegetables for Farmers/Distribution Co.

 

Nicaragua

   Effective Water Mgt in Irrigation Systems for Fruits and Vegetables

 Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) Establishment and Management

Marketing Strategies of Dairy Products

Management Practices for Equine Farms

Improve Milk Production and Processes

Conditions of International Trade

 

Contact us:

Florida International University

Eugenio Pino and Family

Global Entrepreneurship Center

Institute for Community Innovation

 

Carmen Algeciras

(305) 348-0399

algecira@fiu.edu

www.entrepreneurship.fiu.edu/usaid

Post-harvest handling of rambutan in Honduras

Cattle Farm-Honduras

Tourist Center/Cattle Farm with members of

Association of Cattlemen of San Pedro (AGAS) and project staff in Honduras.