For about 5 years, the USAID Value Chains for Rural Development (VC-RD) project, implemented by Winrock International, has been supporting the melon value chain in Myanmar along with grantee Myanmar Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association (MFVP). In 2016 and 2017, VC-RD and MFVP hosted various melon production volunteers, including Dr. Timothy Coolong, to assess the melon value chain and train melon farmers. These volunteers found significant issues affecting the melon value chain: Bacteria Fruit Blotch (BFB) disease and high postharvest losses at the packaging and handling stage.

MFVP decided that exposure to best practices from US farmers would be beneficial for Myanmar farmers. In October 2017, MFVP members and avocado farmers successfully learned from California avocado producers and decided to replicate that fruitful experience for melon farmers by organizing the Myanmar Melon Mission to the US. To get advice on how to proceed, Winrock staff contacted Dr. Tim Coolong, past volunteer and Associate Professor at the University of Georgia-Extension. Dr. Coolong kindly offered to help plan and reach out to his contacts in the US melon industry. Southern Georgia was selected as the primary visit site since this region is the largest producer of watermelons in the US. The visit was planned for mid-June, as this is the prime watermelon harvesting and shipping season, in advance of the July 4^th holiday when US watermelon consumption is at its highest.

Ten representatives participated in the Myanmar Melon Mission to the US. The group included MFVP’s General Secretary, six members of the Myanmar Melon Producer and Exporter Association, two members of the Myanmar Fruit Commodity Center, and one VC-RD staff. The main objectives of the trip were to observe best practices implemented by US melon farmers, from farm to market, highlighting pest and disease control and packaging at the farm level.

Given the participation of members of the Myanmar Melon Producer and Exporter Association, the group was also interested in learning about the role of a producer association. On the first day of the tour, the group visited the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Representatives of the Board presented their organization’s history and structure for the sustainability of the watermelon industry in the US. The group met with the Board’s Communications and Marketing Director and learned about marketing and the importance of increasing consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research, and educational programs.

The following days were dedicated to field visits to learn about production, shipping, and disease control of melons. The group met with several nationally recognized family farms such as Border Melons East and Lewis Taylor Farms. The group observed the best examples of farm to packaging in Southern Georgia. Their stringent adherence to Food and Drug Administration safety measures was an excellent example to showcase to the Myanmar melon producers.

The group also visited the University of Georgia-Tifton campus. Dr. Bhabesh Dutta, Assistant Professor, and Extension Vegetable Disease Specialist gave a lecture on melon diseases. Dr. Dutta pointed out how critical it is to remain diligent in the pursuit of disease control for all melons grown and shipped.

Two Myanmar melon farmers with the watermelon queen in Georgia

The group concluded their Georgia visit with a trip to the Watermelon Festival in Cordele. Here they were introduced to a traditional, Americana small-town celebration in all its glory! They were treated to live music, a watermelon eating contest, arts and crafts, local food, and free watermelon! They met the festival’s Watermelon Queen and saw hot air balloons and antique cars. Before departing the US, the group will also attend the California Watermelon Festival.

The Myanmar melon group at the University of Georgia

Mr. Zaw Min, Chairman of Financing of the Myanmar Melon Producer and Exporters Association, felt the examples of packaging and shipping would greatly benefit the group when they returned home to Myanmar. The group noted that they learned a lot and are excited to return to Myanmar and begin implementing those practices and disseminating them to their peers.

The Myanmar Melon Mission would not have been possible without Dr. Tim Coolong’s support with planning. Thank you!  

Dr. Michael B. Thomas is an agribusiness consultant who has worked in more than 20 countries in the last 20 years as an agricultural and agribusiness expert.

Twelve avocado producers, members of the Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association (MAVO) – a recently formed group of both large and smallholder farmers, have recently completed a 2-week study tour of the California avocado industry. “This training opportunity was a unique final outcome of a 5-year initiative led by Winrock International under the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program”, said Dr. Michael Thomas, who organized and led the study tour.

“Although there were both cultural and language challenges, the California growers and industry leaders including staff from Calavo Growers, Mission Produce, West Pak, Bella Vado, the California Avocado Commission, and Brokaw Nursery were very welcoming in sharing their knowledge and exchanging ideas,” said Mrs. Sandar Myo, leader of the Myanmar delegation.

Study tour group visiting the Pine Tree Ranch in Santa Paula, California.

Study tour group visiting the West Pak Avocado, Inc. in Murietta, California.

“It is quite a unique experience to host a group of farmers in the United States who have followed up on recommendations so quickly, these farmers are well-organized and became highly motivated and inspired through the Winrock F2F program”, said Dr. Thomas. The rural farmers, primarily from avocado producing areas of Chin and Shan States, attended the 103^rd annual meeting California Avocado Society in October. Following the meeting, they also visited and experienced first-hand current research orchards and packing house facilities in San Diego and Ventura counties, the leading California avocado-producing counties. The farmers also partnered with Brokaw Nursery, a leading wholesale subtropical tree nursery, to complete the first certified importation of 5 commercial avocado varieties. More than 125 smallholder farmers in Myanmar have now received portions of the 10,000 imported budwood. This cultivar introduction will help to establish a new germplasm repository and future certified nursery stock which will extend the avocado producing months and increase the production of improved avocado cultivars such as “Hass”, “Lamb Hass” and “Zutano”. The hope is that these improved cultivars will serve as a foundation to increase the acreage and production required for both domestic and emerging new export markets, especially in Asia.

Imported avocado budwood being distributed to farmers by the Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association.

Since 2014 Winrock International has partnered with the Myanmar Fruit, Vegetable, and Producers and Exporters (MFVP) as the local counterpart and facilitated the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) exchange of seven avocado crop specialists from DC, Florida, and Hawaii including Todd Walton, Daniel Carrillo, Robert Flick, and Drs. Michael Thomas, Jonathan Crane, and Randy Ploetz. These specialists collectively provided a successful series of lectures, technical assistance workshops and hands-on practical training to hundreds of Myanmar farmers on easily-adoptable crop management techniques and value-chain components such farm management, nursery production, grafting, pruning, irrigation, pest and disease management, as well as post-harvest issues and value-added opportunities. The Farmer-to-Farmer Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and leverages the expertise of skilled U.S. volunteers to increase agriculture sector productivity and profitability, and strengthen agricultural sector institutions. The Asia F2F Program (2013-2018), in particular, implemented by Winrock, generated sustainable food security and economic growth in the agricultural sector by introducing new technologies and innovations, and developing local capacity for more productive, sustainable, and equitable agricultural systems in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar.

Members of Myanmar Avocado Producer and Exporter Association receiving imported California budwood at Yangon International airport.

As a result of this F2F partnership, avocado is now poised to become a crop with new economic potential in Myanmar providing new opportunities for local farmers. Although avocado is a fruit that is not native to Myanmar, farmers have long cultivated avocados. The current annual domestic production is small and characterized almost exclusively by locally accepted varieties. The significance of the fruit, known as “green gold” in new emerging global markets is still relatively undeveloped in Myanmar. Globally, the avocado is experiencing rapid new market acceptance and resulting in the establishment of acreage worldwide, especially in neighboring China.

Rural farmer tending to recently grafted avocado seedlings.

August 17, 2018. It was a rainy day in Yangon. Winrock’s F2F staff, from the head office and Asia region, and volunteers hugged each other and said ‘bye’ from their hearts in the Yangon airport lobby. I remembered the day I finished my final examination in University; all the friends were happy as we had faced the biggest challenge of our life, however, we were so sad from deep within our hearts as we had to be apart after 5 years of friendship under the same roof.

After just as many years implementing USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Asia region, mainly in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal, Winrock is going to hand over the program to another implementer at the end of September. We are hugging with great happiness and pride for accomplishing the 5-year program successfully, wishing each other to have bright futures after. However, I felt everyone’s sadness from their eyes for the separation and being away from Winrock’s roof where we had lived for 5 years together. Yes, it was  similar to my last day of university life. It was  bite-the-bullet time. We have to accept the things we cannot change, haven’t we?

Each and every host country in the Asia F2F program conducted a learning event to review the program’s activities we worked hard on, successes we accomplished, impacts we made, challenges we faced and opportunities we have to improve. We discussed those things in the regional workshop conducted from August 15 to 17, 2018 in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State. Within 5 years, we, Asia F2F program assisted 19,184 people in 3 host countries through 330F2F volunteer assignments in the areas of rural development, agricultural education and training and youth entrepreneurship. We have done a good job for the people and for the host countries, of course including my motherland. We were not just focusing on productivity, but we also considered food safety. We were not just improving the quality of agriculture products, but we also alert on resilience and constantly thought about sustainability. Our focus was not only on agriculture but also on people; how they live their lives, how they work together to improve their livelihood and business.

I tried to shift my emotional thoughts to technical analysis. F2F has reviewed itself, how about me? What did the past 5 years of my life as a Winrocker mean? How much did I improve? Who was I, and who am I right now? I analyzed the baseline and impact of my bio-data.

OMG! I found that Winrock and F2F changed my life a lot. I changed from a vet who only thought about Foot and Mouth Disease all the time to someone who is advocating integration of livestock and crop productions. F2F changed me from a lab technician who was worrying about the bacterial contamination of baby hamster kidney cells in which virus replicated to produce FMD vaccine, into a man who is worrying about the safety of the food for the people of the whole world. I should not show-off that I changed from a specialist to a generalist. However, I have the confidence to say that the F2F program and its volunteers helped broaden my view from the microscope to the globe.

As a Winrocker, F2F impacted not only my vision but also my career life. The knowledge gained from F2F volunteers, field trips, and management work, helped a lot in my other life as a freelance writer.

Working in the field translating from volunteers’ scientific information into farmer’s language was the most pride filled l part of my job in the F2F program. If the technology and science were the gods, F2F and I as an F2F technical officer will be the messengers. Without farmers, there is no world. Without scientific and technical knowledge, the farmers cannot grow. Without the messengers like F2F, the farmers lack  that knowledge.

As a Winrocker, I am very proud to be the one who understands farmers lives, the one who serves  the farmers , the one who has the vision to feed the world, the one who fights for resilience and sustainability of agriculture, and the one who is working hard.

Mr Kofi Annan, who is former secretary general of United Nations and passed away recently, once said, “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there”.

I was a Winrocker and F2F technical staff. Yeah, I am sure I chose it very very well, five years ago. And it was right. It will be one of the best choices ever in my life.

Neelam Canto-Lugo was nominated by the Myanmar Farmer to Farmer team because she is excellent at highlighting personal capacity and demonstrating how to use, manage and improve it. She has opened the eyes of many trainees about how to prepare for the work place and is dedicated to training while doing it with pleasure. 

Country Director, Ai Kyaw, said: “She is not only a volunteer but also the capacity builder, developing countries need.”

Why did you want to volunteer? 

 I have always enjoyed volunteering. I live a comfortable life and have all my material needs met. There are many in our world who do not have that luxury. Material objects are essential but more important are knowledge and learning. These can transform lives and societies and benefit countless people. I wanted to share the knowledge I possessed to transform and empower others in my own community and around the world. Volunteering for Winrock’s Farmer-to Farmer gave me that opportunity for which I am very grateful.  

We come into this world to do more than make a living; volunteering (for me) is the way to do more. 

 What was the highlight of your most recent volunteer assignment abroad? 

 We conducted two three- day training sessions for members and representatives of Myanmar Livestock Federation (MLF) and Myanmar Flowers, Fruit, and Vegetable Producers and Exporters (MFVP). At the end of the soft skills training, I encouraged the participants an incentive to write effective grant proposals on food and water safety issues and offered $500 each for successful proposals. After just three days of training, fourteen participants submitted proposals.  That was amazing and incredibly rewarding. I was overwhelmed by the participants’ enthusiasm and motivation. I ended up providing four mini-grants instead of three as I had originally planned.  

 What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive? 

I was extremely impressed by the enthusiasm of the people who participated in my training. The participants were eager to learn and to put into practice the ideas I had shared with them. The highlight of my Myanmar assignment was the fact that I left Myanmar feeling that I had accomplished more than I had set out to do. I still get emails from my Myanmar students sharing with me the progress of projects that they started because of the training  

As a volunteer for Winrock, I have been rewarded with working with people whose dedication to the mission of Winrock is reflected in the ways they perform their tasks. I must emphasize that the Myanmar team made me feel like a member of their family.  I experienced true hospitality from the Farmer-to Farmer staff and the two hosts and they are now part of my global family. 

How does your experience affect your world view? 

My travel to Myanmar has re-confirmed my faith in the goodness of humankind. I realize that no matter what part of the world we inhabit, kindness, respect, and hospitality are universal values that can enrich our lives as they enriched mine.  In addition, I became aware that the process of teaching is also the process of learning; I gained more than I offered.  

 What advice would you give a new volunteer? 

 I will strongly suggest that a new volunteer must establish connections with his/her trainees.  Share new ideas with the trainees in a way that respects their culture and traditions.  

Be flexible because each culture has its own way of perceiving and interpreting ideas. The Winrock International staff and the country hosts treat you as close family members and look after your every need, so you need to relax and enjoy the tremendous opportunity to share your knowledge and skills with people around the world. 

 How have your assignments made a difference in your own life?/Has your assignment caused you to do anything differently once you returned? 

 I focus much more on human relationships now than on objects. I constantly attempt to dispel misinformation and myths that we have about other countries.  I encourage my college students to develop and practice empathy, acceptance of others, kindness. Most importantly, I promote the spirit of volunteerism in them and provide them volunteer opportunities in my community. 

 Why should people consider volunteering? 

Volunteering allows people to become knowledgeable about other cultures and ways of life.  It forces you to evaluate and analyze your own values and beliefs.  A volunteer teaches, but she also learns about herself.  

How do you feel about the support from Winrock, whether before, during or after your assignments? 

From my first assignment over two years ago, the Winrock team in Arkansas and in the countries I have visited has been extraordinary.  They provide tremendous support to volunteers and maintain outstanding communication before, during, and after the completion of the assignments. The directors in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal phoned me a couple of times every day to ensure that everything was running smoothly.  Every detail, large and small is carefully managed. 

When your friends/family find out that your volunteer assignment abroad, what do they say or ask? 

They want to know about the countries I visit and the people I meet and work with.   

They ask about the types of training I provide. And many wish to learn about  volunteering overseas.   

What do you do when you’re not volunteering? 

I teach Public Speaking and Intercultural Communications at Yuba College in California. Many years back, I developed a speakers’ series titled “Crossing Borders Building Bridges” for college students, faculty, and community members and I organize speakers and events when I am not volunteering. I am a Board member for various civic organizations like the Japanese American Citizens League, JACL, and the Foundation Board of Rotary International.  I am grandmother of two little girls, a 2- year old and a 10- month old and enjoy spending time with them. 

 Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement? In providing inspiration? 

 My parents inspired us when my siblings and I were growing up in India. They encouraged us to help take care of wounded soldiers returning from battles and babies whose families had been lost due to wars or poverty.   In addition, my junior high school in India had a Civics Day once a month where all students were required to participate in community service.  

 Do you keep in touch with your host organization?

 Yes, I am in constant touch with all my hosts. We communicate regularly by phone, email, or social media. I also conduct fundraisers for them as I did with my Nepal host, Women Development Advocacy Center, and Bangladesh host, Hunger Free World.  In July of this year, I provided voluntary Pedagogy and Curriculum Development training to my host, Dept. of Youth Development, Bangladesh.   

 How do you feel that your volunteer assignment has contributed to create a shared understanding across different cultures through person-to-person interactions? 

 I did not have much knowledge about some of the countries where I volunteered. However, in the process of teaching and interacting with the participants, I was able to share with them many positive ideas about my country.  Many of them didn’t know much about the USA other than what they saw on television. By our interactions during and after the assignment, they were able to get a different picture of America and Americans. On my part, I realized that like my students here, the participants were eager to learn new information and couldn’t wait to put it into practice. The country hosts as well as the Winrock teams in every country I visited had the exact same mission as I, social uplifting and economic empowerment of people.  

What keeps you going back to volunteer? 

 Volunteering gives me a tremendous sense of fulfilment. I have tremendously enjoyed and value the kindness and care shown by everyone I have met on my assignments. I have also gained lifelong friendships in all the places where I have volunteered.

Dr. Herring was nominated by the Myanmar team because of his ability to quickly absorb the local situation in the field and adapt those observations into an informative presentation and training. He got along well with all the farmers he met, was well prepared and focused on the work. “Dr. Herring’s assignment and shared information delighted the host and cattle farmers, it presented real opportunities in livestock export if they practice cattle farming systematically. It pointed out potential investment areas and possible collaboration between US and Myanmar” Ai Kyaw, Chief of Party, Myanmar. We asked Dr. Herring to reflect on his volunteer experience and the trip to Myanmar, his responses are below.

My Winrock volunteer assignment was to assess the Myanmar cattle industry and to make recommendations regarding potential improvements and developments as the industry there transitions from a draft-based cattle industry toward more organized beef production. I was in country from 1 to 13 January 2018, and my host was the Myanmar Livestock Federation (MLF).

Cattle market near Pyawbwe. These cattle are bred and used for draft purposes. the farmers prefer gray cattle to red cattle. All transactions at this market must be completed by noon.

1.Why did you want to volunteer?

I am interested in opportunities that expand my knowledge base, especially those that also help other people involved in animal agriculture, and particularly those involving cattle producers.

Successful cattle grower operation where the farmer purchases cattle for a specialized market and provides adequate feeding for improved cattle performance compared to typical cattle management in the region

2. What was the highlight of your most recent volunteer assignment abroad?

The most valuable resource in the world is people, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with people involved in the various aspects of livestock production in Myanmar, and experiencing their culture and friendship.

Dr. Herring and the owners of a successful dairy farm. They have 56 cows on 2.5 acres of land in a suburban area near Yangon. The owners had also organized a milk collection cooperative company.

3.What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

I had never been to Myanmar or this part of Asia. One of the most distinctive aspects of this trip was seeing the degree that farmers rely on their cattle for draft work and transportation, and to personally visit and contribute to one of the less developed countries of the world.

The Myanmar cattle industry is transitioning from traditional draft use to beef-emphasized production

4.How does your experience affect your worldview?

The first thing it does is reinforce my thoughts on how fortunate people in the USA and other developed countries are regarding our daily lives. Many in developed countries do not realize how little of our annual income we have to spend on food. In the USA, in particular, we also have many liberties that people in other countries do not have. The second thing it reinforces is how similar people all over the world are.

The gentleman is Zayar Chit Sein, and his meat market purchases and fabricates 3 beef
sides per day. He supplies some restaurants and hotels in Yangon.

5.What advice would you give a new volunteer?

1) Keep an open mind about seeing new cultures and circumstances; it will be a great learning experience. 2) the people you meet will be very appreciative of your choice to volunteer. 3) don’t be afraid to ask questions, and always have patience and politeness. 4) the only impression some people may ever have about the USA could come from their experiences with you.

Meeting between Dr. Herring, Winrock Farmer to Farmer, Myanmar Livestock Breeding, and the owner of a bull buyer operation interested in receiving information regarding nutrition and how to start a beef cow herd

6.Why should people consider volunteering?

It will be a tremendous learning experience, and it will be rewarding personally. Even if there is a day or two that you wonder why you agreed to volunteer, you will be glad you decided to do it.

The owner of “The Prime Rib” restaurant in Yangon, U Myint Thu, hosted Winrock F2F staff and volunteers. U
Myint Thu is a member of the Myanmar Livestock Federation and is committed to producing value-added
cattle and beef products.

7.How have your assignments made a difference in your own life?

I have become more motivated to help cattle producers whenever I can. I have also become more motivated to work with producers and industry groups in developing countries.

Dr. Herring gives an interview to a local TV station after a meeting between him, MLF officers and government officials.

8.How do you feel about the support from Winrock, whether before, during or after your assignments?

The support I had before the trip was excellent. The in-country support that I received in Myanmar was outstanding and surpassed my expectations. All Winrock personnel were very professional and courteous in all my activities. The Winrock Asia F2F Myanmar staff were excellent partners working closely with MLF to organize informative meetings, tours, and farm visits that not only helped me understand their industry and livestock production conditions but also helped me understand the culture and daily lives of Myanmar people.

Bull buyer operation near Myingyan

9.When your friends and family find out that your volunteer assignment was abroad, what do they say or ask?

The main questions they ask are about how different things were there compared to here. Some of those things include food (rice at every meal and lots of spices!), living and driving conditions (which were much more congested than we are used to, and most cars are right-handed because they are used to cars from Japan, but they also drive on the right side of the road), and the cost of various household items (food and many items are much cheaper there than in the USA).

Food markets in Yangon are open 6:30 to 10:00 5 or 6 days a week. Many people buy their food daily because they have little storage area in their homes or have no refrigeration for perishable foods.

10.What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I am a professor in the Animal Science Department at Texas A&M University, and teach classes and conduct research regarding beef cattle production. However, my most important job is that of dad and husband, and my biggest challenge is time management. I also enjoy working outdoors on the small cattle operation my family and I have.

11.Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement? In providing inspiration?

I try to minimize time away from my family, but they are huge supporters of me when I choose to go on volunteer assignments. As my children have become older, it has become easier for me to volunteer more. Both of my parents also encouraged me early in life to perform service and volunteer type activities.

12.Do you keep in touch with your host organization? [Host organizations are the organizations that receive volunteer support]

Yes, mainly through social media. I hope to continue communication with them in the future.

Dr. Herring with cattle farmers near Yanthar village in the Mandalay Region

13.How do you feel that your volunteer assignment has contributed to creating a shared understanding of different cultures through person-to-person interactions?

I am very glad to have contributed in a small way to a big-picture activity. The more that people understand and appreciate each other’s cultures, the more effective communication can be achieved, and more efficient learning and improvements can be made. The interactions I had with cattle farmers was very enlightening for both me and them.

The Schwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. The first shrine on this site was built around 558BC and structures have been added to it by kings and queens through different dynasties.