When a farmer's crop fails or their poultry sickens; when the need is evident to breed better cattle or to improve fruit and vegetable production; that is when Partners' volunteers are called into the field to offer technical assistance.
W/NP has a longstanding history ripe with collaborative agriculture and community development projects throughout Nicaragua. Working on the premise that the right tool in the right hands can revitalize a community and transform lives, Wisconsin and Nicaragua volunteers work together to plan and implement projects. By fostering this contact and cooperation, Farmer to Farmer lets agriculturists share the benefit of their experience and form lasting bonds through their institutions and communities.
Farmer To Farmer
Since 1996, W/NP's Farmer to Farmer program has been working to improve economic opportunities in rural areas within Nicaragua by partnering agricultural professionals and practitioners from both countries. They have worked together identifying local needs and designing projects to address them. Emphasis is placed on small-producer profitablility through technical assistance, production technologies, and marketing services.
Each FTF project begins with a dialogue between the FTF coordinator, farmers, farm organizations, and agro-industry in Nicaragua. Next, the Wisconsin FTF project leaders provide technical recommendations and locate agricultural professionals with expertise and skills to carry out the project in Nicaragua. In-country collaborating organizations provide support for the volunteers. These volunteers are made up of ranchers, farmers, horticulturists, foresters, university faculty and staff, dairy producers, agribusiness consultants, and other members of the agricultural community.
