As an organization committed to sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development, the Winrock International Farmer-to-Farmer Program would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions and impact that the Black Diaspora has had on the agriculture industry in the United States. For centuries, Black farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers have played a critical role in shaping and sustaining our food systems, despite facing systemic discrimination and barriers to land ownership and access to resources. Their contributions have been vital to the success and diversity of the American agriculture sector, yet their stories and legacy have often been overlooked or undervalued. We understand this is a long-term commitment and that much work must be done. However, we are committed to being a part of the solution and working toward a future where Black farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers are honored, respected, and have the necessary resources and support to thrive. This is why we at Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program would like to recognize and honor the work of one of our Volunteer Champions, Dr. Onesimus Otieno.

Dr. Onesimus Otieno is a passionate advocate for international development and an experienced volunteer with Winrock. Onesimus has gained valuable experience and confidence through his volunteer work with Winrock, allowing him to develop networks and obtain international experience. Dr. Onesimus Otieno a committed and passionate F2F Volunteer. As a Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer with Winrock International, Dr. Otieno shares his teaching and information technology expertise to benefit farmers and communities in Senegal, Nigeria, and beyond. Dr. Otieno has been praised for understanding his audience and tailoring his teaching to their specific needs. Dr. Otieno’s dedication to this work has made a lasting impact, with Hosts and fellow Volunteers reporting increased knowledge and enthusiasm for their work due to Dr. Otieno’s leadership. As a F2F Volunteer, Dr. Otieno has also gained a global perspective that has impacted his professional focus and worldview. He recognizes our world’s interconnectedness and the impact each individual can have on others.

What makes you passionate about the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, and why do you feel you can be such a strong advocate?

I represent the many whose lives have been transformed by the experiences we gain abroad. I discovered how much impact a single individual can make in a community. At each of my eight assignments, I have learned how to apply my technical skills in different contexts. I discovered new things about myself as I was stretched beyond my comfort zones. My world is now a lot wider. I have more confidence in my skills and have a more extensive global network of colleagues. The skills I learn abroad have made me better back home, and I can more effectively mentor others toward global awareness.  

Why do you think it’s vital for BIPOC to participate? What is the purpose and importance of having a DEI initiative?

The importance of the DEI initiative is to mainstream BIPOC into all activities. This represents a more complete spectrum of Americans to the world. Many countries experience marginalization of minority groups, and the DEI initiative demonstrates an atmosphere of inclusion. Demonstrating inclusion by example will help motivate our host partners to do the same. The authenticity of being inclusive within will go a long way to give our hosts a sense of inclusion where they perceive themselves as colleagues and peers.

What are the benefits of Volunteering with Winrock?

The projects are very well vetted, and all plans are put in place to use time and resources efficiently. The assignments are well coordinated by very efficient and professional staff. This happens from the day you first declare interest to follow-up after the project in networking with new and old volunteers. I have been to eight assignments, and they all were very well coordinated.

What advice would you give a new Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer?

Please welcome what will change you as you change the world! The Winrock International staff does a great job of matching your skills to the assignment and provides all the support you need to be successful. This reduces the anxiety associated with working in unfamiliar environments. The assignments are long enough to create an impact and have a meaningful experience of the local culture and environment. The assignment is also short enough to fit into a busy schedule with multiple conflicting priorities.

Today we bring you another installment of our local volunteer highlights! This Q&A is with Dr. Emmanuel Opoola, national volunteer for the Nigeria F2F project. Dr. Opoola worked with remote U.S. volunteer, Stephen Bullen, to develop a syllabus and training materials on-farm management and trained the host’s agricultural team on how to use the developed training materials to enable them to further the trainings to their beneficiary farmers.

What was the best part about contributing to Farmer–to–Farmer as a national volunteer in your country/ region?

As a national volunteer, I had the privilege to meet new people. I had the opportunity to connect to the host community, remote-based volunteer and broaden my support network, exposing me to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.  The best part was to have played my role in providing local cases to support the development of training modules and other materials and in visiting the host location to personally deliver training on strategic/tactical farm management planning and setting up a recording-keeping system.

What was the best part about working with a remote US-based volunteer?

Valuable connections and relationships were established with the remote US-based volunteer. The best part was that I had the chance of combining my training experience on-farm management and that of the US-based volunteer synergy for delivering a better package to the participants.

What did you learn/were there any cultural exchanges with the US volunteer and/or your host?

Developing new skills; discovering new passions, gaining insight about myself and the world around me. Now, I feel more comfortable stretching my wings at work after I have honed these skills in working with a remote US-based volunteer. There were cultural exchanges with the US-based volunteer in areas related to strategic analysis and comparing new enterprises.

What lasting impact did volunteering with Winrock have on you?

I have learned important skills to be used in my workplaces, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management, and organization.

We were inspired by Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov. 8-14) and are excited to share the success of a youth entrepreneur in Guinea who has expanded her product line thanks to support received from Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer program. Enterprise Fatou et Kadija (EFK), a startup company in Guinea led by a young woman named Fatou Titine Cissoko, is gaining success by providing juice and jam products that meet market demand and quality standards.

Ms. Cissoko was trained in entrepreneurship topics by prior USAID-funded Associate Awards implemented by Winrock International and CNFA. As part of her participation in entrepreneurship

Ms. Cissoko displaying new product offerings from EFK after receiving F2F technical training.

training, Ms. Cissoko created a business plan and received a grant of US$ 900 (8,134,500 GNF) to start her fruit drying business, EFK.  Since starting the business in 2019, she has added the production of drinks and jams made from fruits such as ginger, pineapple, mango, etc.

Recognizing that she needed further technical and organizational capacity-building skills to grow her business, Ms. Cissoko reached out to the Guinea Farmer-to-Farmer program to receive

trainings in financial literacy and food processing and preservation to better produce tropical fruit drinks.

“During the financial literacy training, I learned how to approach financial institutions with my business plan. I admit that I was afraid because these institutions are very demanding, and as a young entrepreneur, I have no guarantees to offer. Nevertheless, following my meeting with them, two of the most important banks in the area came back to me and offered me credit opportunities…”, explains Ms. Cissoko. She plans to utilize a finance option soon to invest in expanding her production and feels that the banks’ willingness to offer her credit options offers an opportunity to prove that young entrepreneurs are solid investments.

The Farmer-to-Farmer technical training focused on processing techniques followed the financial literacy capacity building and has led to additional product offerings for EFK. Prior to receiving training, EFK was unable to produce quality ginger juice and jams. Since receiving training, EFK now produces and sells quality ginger juice, jams, and monkey bread juice, resulting in a 40 to 50% increase in profits. EFK has sold more than 300 bottles of monkey juice alone within the few months after learning of this new product from the Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer.

Ms. Cissoko and EFK’s goals are to continue to expand product offerings that meet quality standards and hope as the business grows that they are able to employ more young staff in the future.

What was the best part about contributing to Farmer-to-Farmer as a national volunteer in their country/region?

I was elated to be able to give back to my country using the skills I have acquired over the years. It was rewarding and it gave me a sense of fulfilment. It also afforded me the opportunity to meet the needs of clients or people who ordinarily wouldn’t have crossed my path. I met interesting people, young and old contributing their quota to the development of agriculture in Nigeria.

My first assignment was with a Non-governmental organization, Agrolearn where I contributed to the development of training modules that could be used by agricultural extension agents as well as facilitating four sessions of training. The trainees were warm and enthusiastic to learn. The trainees also sharpened my view of some aspects of extension as they brought their experiences on board.

My second assignment was institutional assessment at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, Lagos. I was able to help conduct SWOT analysis of the institution which gave me a sense of fulfilment

What was the best part about working with a remote US based volunteer?

The best part was the opportunity to learn new ideas from another clime. I also loved the ideas shared and the two I worked with so far have great personalities. I think developing modules together also broadened my knowledge. I have always longed for an exchange program of some sort and working with them gave me a peek into what it would look like should I embark on that.

What did you learn/were there any cultural exchanges with the US volunteer and/or your host?

Yes, there were a few with the international partners. In developing the modules on my first assignment, Dr. Laurie Murrah-Hanson and I developed an in-depth module on program planning and development which broadened my knowledge. That stood out for me.

Working with Professor Gary Wingenbach was so rewarding as he explained how to use the OCI tool for institutional assessment in details. Listening to his sessions also gave me an insight to what practices are obtainable in teaching and learning in the United States. For instance, emphasis on other aspects of the learner apart from cognitive development is now top priority for me as I impact knowledge.

The hosts I have worked with so far are from my own section of the country, so no major exchange has taken place.

What lasting impact did volunteering with Winrock have on you?

It has aroused a desire to be selfless and make a difference in the agricultural sector. I admire the drive and focus of the organization. The passion of their staff to achieve results is also commendable and worthy of emulation. I also hope they keep this window open even after COVID19.

What was the best part about contributing to Farmer-to-Farmer as a national volunteer in their country/region?

Firstly, in the case of this assignment (which involved the development of training modules and in-person training of the host on strategic digital marketing for agribusinesses), the best part was having to interact and co-learn with the host as well as other agribusiness participants towards a playbook that identified the challenges and limitations akin to traditional marketing evident in their businesses, and developing their capacity to utilize digital marketing to carry out their businesses. This presents opportunities to increase visibility and generate business-to-business leads more efficiently.

Secondly, representing Winrock International at the National Level, as a Farmer-to-Farmer National Volunteer helped develop in me a psyche of being part of a global vision to achieve the SDG goal I (no poverty), II (zero hunger) and VIII (decent work and economic growth). This psyche wound up a resilience in me that transcended local boundaries to make impact despite the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19 transmission.

What was the best part about working with a remote US based volunteer?

Working with a remote US based volunteer made this cliché practical– the world is a global village. In practical terms, the knowledge, experiences and thoughts that diffused across borders seamlessly as a result of this assignment and via the technological aid of the internet was the best part for me.

What did you learn/were there any cultural exchanges with the US volunteer
and/or your host?

One outstanding example that the remote US Volunteer, Jessica Byasse shared which was her approach to using personalization as a communication technique to increase donations to a US-based NGO she worked with remained a key take-away for me, even as a digital marketing professional. It helped me view the use of this technique from a different cultural setting, and relate that with the local setting in Nigeria. This was very useful in the development of the material that was prepared for the host.

What lasting impact did volunteering with Winrock have on you?

Volunteering with Winrock International remains one of the highlights for me this year, especially as it helped me understand the scriptural saying (Acts 10:35) that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. COVID-19 created a panic worldwide and a large percentage of people wound-up their psyche to receiving, so we had huge populations of people around the world expecting reliefs, vaccines, help and support in one way or the other.

In my case, I had myself through the volunteering activity, giving-off rather than receiving. This was by transferring knowledge, skills and expertise to help boost the host capacity to train agribusinesses to be digitally complaint in their marketing activities. In one sentence, volunteering with Winrock leaves me with this thought permanently and that is “Despite the prevailing circumstances you may find yourself in, always find creative ways to be of help or support to someone in need”