Vermont Honduras Partnership, Partners of the Americas
Farmer to Farmer

Orientation Handbook

I. The Farmer To Farmer Orientation and Project Preparation Handbook

A. Introduction

Partners of the Americas is implementing the Farmer to Farmer (FTF) Program in Latin America with a grant from the Agency for International Development (US/AID) and the support of its Partner Chapters in the U.S. and Latin America. The US/AID grant enables us to send U.S. volunteer agricultural specialists to work with farmers in the participating countries.

The purpose of this manual is to orient you; the FTF coordinator, project leader, participating farmer, and technical volunteers to the FTF program.

B. Philosophy

Farmer to Farmer is a people to people program designed to create and support ongoing links to sources of information and technical assistance. Volunteers work directly with farmers and farm organizations to solve problems by providing technical assistance.

C. Goals

  • Increase food production and distribution in Latin America,
  • Involve U.S. farmers and agriculturists, on a volunteer basis, in the agricultural development of the region,
  • Improve the opportunities for women agriculturists.

II. Agricultural Projects - the program's basic component

A. The Project Plan

A project is a series of volunteer assignments and actions that result in the improvement of the participating farmer's condition.
     Each project has a plan. The planning process begins with a dialogue between project leaders, the farmers desiring assistance, and the Partners FTF committees, north and south. Needs are analyzed, problems defined, and steps to solve the problems are spelled out. Solutions utilize technology available within the Partners volunteer network are the ones generally proposed.
     The plan also serves as a guide for all involved in the implementation of the project. The plan also serves as the basis for monitoring and evaluating the project.
     The plan begins with a project definition and a project description. As volunteer assignments are defined and negotiated they become a part of the plan, as do ongoing monitoring and evaluation reports. The plan is maintained during the life of the project and becomes the most important source of information about the project.

B. Project Definition

The first task is to define the project as specifically as possible. This process insures a common understanding of what the actual situation is, what the real conditions are, and what restrictions apply to the project. The following are important factors to consider when defining the project:
  1. Information: Descriptions and statistics relating to the geographic conditions, the seasons, and the agricultural realities of the region are assembled and made available. Information is gathered about the participant group, who they are, what they grow, and the type of assistance they need.
  2. Local Support: Partners' believes that projects will be more successful if one or more local institutions that can provide necessary follow-up to the FTF volunteers efforts are also involved.
  3. Appropriate Technology: FTF projects should be selected that can utilize the assistance available in the Partners northern chapter, and equipment that can be realistically obtained.
  4. International Support: A FTF project should also support the program objectives of the countries' US/AID mission and if possible get additional assistance from the mission and other international sources.
The southern FTF coordinator coordinates this process, drawing on personal/partnership contacts, local NGO's, government officials and studies, and the US/AIDS mission.

C. The Project Description

FTF projects are described using a logical framework. The project description, found in Section III, is a one page form that is used for describing the project, it contains the following important elements:
  1. Purpose: The reason for conducting the project. The purpose will be achieved, when the outcomes are produced.
  2. Inputs: Resources needed and activities undertaken to achieve the project purpose.
  3. Outputs: Results, that when achieved will insure a successful project. Outputs are defined in clear, measurable statements.
  4. Indicators: The end of project status defined by statements describing the conditions that will exist when the project has achieved its desired results.
The project description must be agreed upon by all involved in the project. This document, like a contract is the definition of what is to be done and what conditions will exist, when the project is completed.

D. The Project in Action

  1. Project leaders, at least one from the northern and one from the south, coordinate the implementation of the project to insure that volunteers are selected and fielded in a timely manner and that the assignment of the volunteers meets the need of the farmer group as stated in the project plan.
  2. The participating farmers, take responsibility for the volunteers visit, coordinating with the southern project leader to insure that local support (housing, meals, transportation, etc.) and training facilities (demonstration plots, actual markets, etc.) are available for use during the training sessions.
  3. The volunteer, is the technician who shares his/her experience with the participating farmers to help them achieve the desired results (outputs) as stated in the project plan.
  4. Volunteer assignments; are defined well in advance and shared with the northern and southern committees to insure common understanding of the task to be addressed by the volunteer.
  5. Volunteer recruitment; are tasks undertaken by the northern committee. The skills of the volunteer should fit the need as defined in project plan. Special skills and needs of the volunteer should be discussed with the participants.
  6. Volunteer orientation; is the task of the northern committee.
  7. In country assistance; during the volunteers in-country stay is the responsibility of the southern committee.

E. Project Monitoring and Evaluation

An ongoing process, monitoring and evaluation is an integral part of each project. The logical nature of the project plan defines desired project results (outcomes) and indicators at the beginning of the project. The challenge is to monitor project progress in a way that provides needed information to the volunteers, the farmers, and the project leaders but does not pose an undue burden on any one person. Data also needs to be gathered that documents change in the conditions of the farmers during the life of the project.      Project monitoring takes place throughout the life of the project, with important focus on the following times:
  1. Pre-project implementation: baseline data gathered during the development of the produce plan.
  2. At the beginning of each volunteers assignment: The project coordinator, participating farmers, and the volunteer should define what will be done during the visit.
  3. At the conclusion of each volunteers assignment: The project coordinator, participating farmers, and the volunteer should assess progress made towards the project's stated purpose.
  4. Periodic site visits: By FTF staff, project leaders, and partnership representatives.
Data gathering and reporting forms are included in section III.

III. Farmer to Farmer Forms

  1. Project Description: A one page form that clearly defines the project and what the project proposes to accomplish.
  2. Baseline Data Sheet: An information gathering tool that documents conditions of the participating farmers at the beginning of the project.
  3. Periodic Data Sheet: The form used by the volunteer technicians, project coordinators and project staff to gather information during the project.
  4. Volunteer Assignment and Travel Form: The Partners of the Americas form used to collect necessary information about the volunteer and the proposed travel arrangements.
  5. Volunteer Report: The report prepared by the volunteer at the end of each assignment.

    (Last updated: January 1997)

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