• About
  • Our Work
  • Join
  • Partner
  • Media
EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Sign-up for monthly updates on Winrock's work around the world.

Volunteer Blog

VOLUNTEER BLOG

The Rich Experiences of Farmer-To-Farmer

  • SHARE:
  • Copy

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Ibrahima (Ibro) Sona Diallo, Guinea F2F Country Director

Ibro Diallo gives an interview during the F2F for AET Learning workshop

Ibro Diallo started working at Winrock International in October 2013. He has a master’s degree in communication and journalism and is currently finishing up a master’s in Environmental Science. Before coming to work with F2F, Ibro worked 10 years for several NGOs including CLUSA, Aide et Action, IFES, and RTI. On the weekends, Ibro teaches communication for development at the Institute of Information and Communication Science. 

This magnificent program, Farmer-to-Farmer continuously offers me opportunities to learn, improve my skills and meet new people.


My Colleagues at Winrock have strengthened me in the teamwork and team management. Their examples of leadership and management as supervisors, allowed me to grow into managing my team in order to achieve Farmer-to-Farmer program objectives. They never behaved as superiors but rather as colleagues and with an attitude of winning together. Pictured above is my great Director DeAnn and my fellow Country Directors from F2F for AET and Asia.

Edie showing the orange tree she planted in Ibro’s village

Mrs. Edie Shannon, as an experienced and talented volunteer, agreed to come twice to Guinea, in 2014 and 2015, during the period of the Ebola outbreak while our neighbors were closing their borders. Edie did a great job with the Farmers Union of Soumbalako Farmers Associations of Mamou, on organizational development. She also helped to set up the Guinean Agriculture Institutes Network (GAIN), the unique space of exchange of actors of the agricultural training in Guinea to strengthen their management capacity. She even visited my village, where she planted some fruit trees.

Anais in a conference at the Vet school

Mrs. Anaïs Troadec, or as she is known in Guinea: Grandmother Anais, has a limitless passion for her job as a volunteer. She helped Institutes of Agronomic Education of Guinea (ENAEs, ISAV-F and ISSMV-Dalaba) to take head-on, the issue of gender in the country educational system. On two occasions she facilitated conferences and debates with students of the Institute of Veterinary & Medical Science of Dalaba on the issue of gender and sexual harassment. These conferences helped to liberate speech at the girl’s level on issues of sexual harassment. The Institute’s management has set up a Gender Committee to raise awareness and combat sexual harassment within the campus, support the girls by allowing make-up courses and organizing cultural and sports activities. Anais’s assignments are practical and adapted to the context and African realities. Anaïs has developed friendships with my field office staff and the team of F2F in Mali. We even celebrated her 72nd anniversary in Bamako in December 2017.

Dr. Kovach, interns from ENAE-Bordo and FUMA field agents pause with pride after constructing and installing one of teh first bucket drip irrigation systems in Salamani, Kankan

Mr. Steven Kovach, Prior his retirement, Steven served as Agricultural Water Advisor with USAID. With his more than 30 years of experience in irrigation and water use for agriculture in the US and abroad, Steven, completed 2 assignments on drip irrigation and water management with, Farmers Federation of Upper Guinea (FUMA) and UGAS. Steven was able to connect with the trainees and easily transfer drip irrigation technology to farmers that have never witnessed this type of water management technology before. To many it was miracle-like to see drips of water coming from the hoses. Most students and professors have learned about the theory of drip irrigation system in a classroom but it was the first time that anyone has actually had hands-on training and participated in the assembly and set up of a drip irrigation system. After, his assignments, Steven has continued to follow-up with his trainees.

Mary and Bob during their first assignment in Guinea

The couple, Mary and Bob Albrecht, these dedicated volunteers were remarkable. Mary and Bob demonstrated strong knowledge in poultry enterprise creation and management. They have a good approach in the training of trainers. They were very creative and adapt quickly. They developed a manual that would assist trainers to assist farmers in their localities, they provided information on business planning and poultry nutrition. Though sadly Bob passed away in 2017, Mrs. Mary Albrecht has continued her dedication to volunteering in Guinea, returning for other assignments.

I always said that I have been so lucky with the American people, I have studied with their money because my father worked for US Embassy. Since 1997, I have worked for USAID funded projects and I will continue to work for this nice Farmer-to-Farmer program to mobilize huge resource and to deepen my learning experience and put it at the service of my nice country, Guinea. With the motivation and commitment of my team, we will achieve the new Farmer-to-Farmer west Africa Program goals.

F2F Team in 2017: (L-R) Bailo, Ousmane, Mory, Fatima, Ibro, Soule, Adama, Sylla

Posted in AET, Africa, Guinea | Tagged Farmer-to-Farmer, Guinea, knowledge transfer, people-to-people exchange
ABOUT FARMER-TO-FARMER WINROCK VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE

SUBSCRIBE TO POSTS

Loading

ARCHIVE

  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011

CATEGORIES

  • AET
  • Africa
    • Ghana
    • Senegal
  • Asia
  • Bangladesh
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Ethiopia
  • Field Staff
  • Guinea
  • Kenya
  • Latin America
  • Mali
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Postharvest
  • Rural Livelihoods
  • Senegal
  • Spotlights
  • Volunteer Feedback
  • Volunteer of the Month
  • Winrock Staff
WinrockIntl
Tweets by @WinrockIntl
Follow @WinrockIntl

204 E 4th Street | North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114

ph +1 501 280 3000 | fx +1 501 280 3090

2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 700 | Arlington, Virginia 22202

ph +1 703 302 6500 | fx +1 703 302 6512

  • Contact
  • E-News Signup
  • Low Bandwidth
  • Code of Conduct
  • Winrock Privacy Statement
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
Copyright © 2015- Winrock International
DEV ENVIRONMENT