Volunteer Posts
In Guinea, West Africa: Lessons from the Land
June 11, 2017
Fruit and vegetable production is fundamental to food security and economic development in rural Guinea and efficient irrigation practices are vital for producers. Today’s blog comes from volunteer David Speidel, who trained members of the Microenterprise of Fruits and Vegetables Producers of Boulliwel in Guinea on water management and drip irrigation. David shares his reflections […]
Improved Training and Services for Small-Scale Farmers in Nigeria
June 8, 2017
Constrained by a lack of resources, public extension services in Nigeria fall far short of the goal of one extension agent for every 800 farmers. In this context, agribusinesses and social enterprises like Babban Gona play a key role in expanding small-scale farmers’ access to training. Babban Gona (“Great Farm” in Hausa), an innovative agricultural […]
Through the Eyes of a F2F Recruiter
May 30, 2017
As a Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) recruiter, my role is to find volunteer agriculture experts that can provide the most positive and measurable impacts to our assignments. I receive the greatest job satisfaction hearing about the volunteers’ experiences and reading the updates from the field staff on impacts. However, it isn’t often that recruiters are able to […]
The Kindness of the People of Zaria, Nigeria
May 24, 2017
This week’s blog comes from F2F volunteer, Erin Riley, sharing thoughts from her Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer experience in Nigeria earlier this spring: “As I got off the plane in Lagos, Nigeria the anxiety of what I was about to encounter was enormous. I put on my Winrock hat and pin that would identify me when I […]
Bangladesh: Beautiful Scenery, Cheerful People, and Wonderful Food
May 16, 2017
This week’s blog comes from F2F volunteer, Thomas Sallee, who traveled to Bangladesh to build the capacity of faculty and students from Khulna University Life Science School and Sylhet Agricultural University on advanced statistical analysis in agricultural research. Mr. Sallee is an agricultural economist and a former agent with the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural […]
Investing in Agriculture Education for a Brighter Senegal
May 10, 2017
As we drive into the Horticulture Initiation Center of Ziguinchor, Senegal, I am greeted by a welcome site—students working alongside instructors in a lush, green, and productive garden. Given the number of people employed in agriculture in countries like Senegal, this is a sight far rarer than it should be. As someone who benefited from […]
The Bangla Welcome
May 2, 2017
This week’s blog comes from F2F volunteer, Dr. Peter Flanagan, an experienced professional in ruminant farming, including dairy production and reproduction management (goats, sheep, and cattle). He also has extensive international development experience and has worked in South Sudan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and India. He currently resides in Guam, where he has established a veterinary clinic. […]
Winrock’s 2016 Volunteer Spirit Award
April 28, 2017
Dr. Hameed, Professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology & Physiology at Duke University, provided extraordinary assistance to the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program in Bangladesh. Dr. Hameed contributed significantly to build the capacity of a group of underprivileged minority youth (mostly young women) to create an additional livelihood opportunity by introducing environmentally friendly, low-cost mushroom production practices […]
Live, Love and Enjoy the Food and the People of Guinea
April 18, 2017
This week’s blog comes from a first-time F2F volunteer, Dr. Erica Bobbitt. Dr. Bobbitt was tasked with providing assistance to Integrated Farm Fabik, a Guinean cooperative, to develop an Agricultural Education and Training program for women and youth in Guinea. Following an initial assessment of the organization’s needs, Dr. Bobbitt developed content that focused on leadership development, […]
An Interview with Johnson Ndi: Youth Entrepreneurship in Bangladesh
April 11, 2017
This week’s blog comes from F2F volunteer, Johnson Ndi. He is an Organizational Development Specialist who has travelled and worked in over 59 countries across the world, volunteering with numerous NGOs in the area of development. Mr. Ndi served as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer from 2014-2015, working as a membership and marketing communication specialist with the Global […]