Angola, Malawi, Mozambique

Farmer-to-Farmer: Southern Africa

CNFA implemented the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program in Southern Africa starting in 2008. From 2008-2018, CNFA’s F2F operated in the countries of Angola, Malawi, and Mozambique and aimed to generate rapid, sustained economic growth in the agricultural sector through short-term technical assistance provided by expert U.S. volunteers, including farmers, bankers, professors, civil servants, and active and retired business people. Lasting two-to-four weeks, volunteer assignments focused on a range of topics, from training farmers’ associations in improved production techniques to teaching cooperatives better financial management and marketing.

CNFA volunteers were guided and supported by our highly trained home and local staff. Through the storytelling of returned volunteers, F2F increased the broader American public’s understanding of international development issues and the critical importance of U.S. development programs.

Program Approach:

Since 2008, CNFA worked with agribusinesses, extension agencies, cooperatives, and farmers to provide expertise on topics including crop production, post-harvest handling and marketing of seeds, cooperative and association development, business plan development, communications and marketing support, and financial management.

  1. Increased Agricultural Sector Productivity and Profitability: CNFA’s approach focused on increasing smallholder productivity and profitability by targeting high-potential value chains in each target country;
  2. Improved Conservation and Sustainable Use of Environmental and Natural Resources: CNFA balanced increased agricultural productivity with improved conservation and sustainable resource use. Examples of volunteer roles include: water management, integrated pest management (IPM), and integrated soil fertility management;
  3. Expanded Agricultural Sector Access to Financial Services: CNFA linked smallholder farmer organizations and SMEs with credit via appropriate channels, including micro-finance institutions, banks, supplier credit, leasing, equity investment, and blended capital from investors;
  4. Strengthened Agricultural Sector Institutions: CNFA strengthened farmer organizations, including cooperatives and associations, local NGOs, industry associations that support improved input supply, and agricultural universities.

Women managing community horticulture gardens to improve nutrition and diet for their families.

Kamwendo Cooking Oil Cooperative (KCOC) in Malawi proudly displays their product.

Aspiring Young Farmers in front of their family's field of legumes.

Armando Romero in front of Agrciultural Supply Store.

Mobilizing community support during intensive manual effort peaks helps to provide much needed labor.

Adding new baby chicks to the coop as part of smallholder diversification/poultry activities.

Farmer proudly shows off his ripening pineapple in Mozambique.

CNFA marketing specialist Bill Nichols discusses business strategy.

CNFA experts examining bean plant at Exagris farm in Malawi.

CNFA volunteer Bill Nichols (middle) teaches an accounting lesson at Dwangwa in Malalwi.

"Before the cooperative, every one worked as an individual - as a result we used to travel long distances as much as 100km to get agro-inputs. Through the volunteers, we now have a modern agrodealer center. We have also acquired important technical knowledge in banana production."

- Rosaflor, CAPIAD Dombe grande

"With the help of the CNFA volunteers we are able to control our finances and maintain our books. We have also been drilled in banana production. We are also using the ideas we learnt in other areas of our farms."

- Pedro Manuel, Primeiro de Maio Cooperative