The John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Latin America

Winrock International and Florida International University 's (FIU) Global Entrepreneurship Center have been selected to implement USAID's John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Farmer (FTF) Program in Central America from FY2004-FY2008. Winrock and FIU's program goals are to increase rural prosperity and promote trade-led economic growth in the core countries of Nicaragua , Guatemala , Honduras and El Salvador by enhancing the capacity of farm producers and rural industry to benefit from domestic and international trade opportunities that will result from entrance into the Central America Free Trade Agreement. The FTF Program goals are realized through volunteer specialists who:

• Help farmers to increase competitiveness, upgrade production capacity and quality and prepare for liberalized trade opportunities.
• Enhance the competitiveness of agribusiness firms and producer organizations so that they can strategically prepare for regional and international market entrance.
• Expand market linkages and domestic and international public and private sector alliances for trade capacity building.

Winrock and FIU recruit and field U.S. specialists on 2 to 4 week technical assistance assignments. Volunteers share their expertise with farmer organizations, agribusinesses and other support organizations with an interest in domestic, regional and international trade. Farmer-to-Farmer specialists volunteer their time and expertise, while the program covers all travel, lodging, meals and incidental expenses.

Volunteer: Laura M. Jarchow

Assignment dates: June 27, 2004 - July 18, 2004

Host: CURLA (Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlantico)

Assignment location: La Ceiba, Honduras

Laura Jarchow, an IMBA graduate and recent volunteer in this program traveled to Honduras during the months of June and July in 2004. The objective of her assignment was to conduct market research on the market for yucca and train the Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (CURLA) in market research skills. Additional assistance was requested to conduct seminars on the basics of market research, including some information for the marketing section of a business plan, and other seminars on PowerPoint usage, communication strategies and how to train-the-trainer.

Laura recounts, "I visited the rural Gar í funa communities of Nuevo Gogh, Cayo Venado and Rosita which are located on the northern Atlántida coast. One professor and three students from CURLA accompanied me on these visits to gather information on yucca production within the communities." At each of these visits, she spoke to the head of each community. With each person, she discussed the importance of yucca in the community, whether the yucca was for consumption in the community or if they sold it externally, what income alternatives exist for the community, whether the community is self-sustainable, and what occurs with the administration of any funds that they have.

The next trip was to La Feria in La Ceiba, which is similar to a weekend produce market, where yucca is sold. In speaking with the coordinator of the feria, she found out that the ferias throughout the country are regulated through San Pedro Sula (a major industrial city on the northern coast). Because the ferias must maintain a low selling price to serve the local community, most of the produce is brought in from Guatemala . Guatemalans are able to sell their products at lower prices, even with the inclusion of transportation costs.

In La Lima, she went to FHIA (Fundación Hondureño de Investigación) and the CDA (Centro de Desarrollo de Agronegocios) where she found a lot of information regarding the yucca market and major exporters to the USA . The majority of yucca (over 95%) is exported by Costa Rica , and is most specifically the Valencia type, which is not commonly grown in Honduras . She also found out that Honduras does not grow enough yucca to fulfill its own consumption needs, and therefore imports from Costa Rica to satisfy its demand. Another important factor in the commercialization of yucca is the size of the yucca. Companies want a standard, common size for yucca and this requires the use of irrigation systems, which are not readily available for the smaller producers of yucca.

Laura also developed four seminars for CURLA. The first seminar discussed the Basics of Qualitative Market Research Techniques. About twenty participants, both students and professors, attended. The next seminar taught PowerPoint skills and the multiple uses for presentations. This seminar had about 9 students in attendance. Additionally, she trained about 16 students and professors on Internal Communication and Train-the-Trainer skills. These seminars discussed communication strategies for implementing new projects and fostering change.

"The assignment has affected me both personally and professionally. To speak of the personal effects, I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge with the CURLA community and helping the developing areas and cooperatives. I have made some new contacts which could help me in future endeavors, especially if I decide to start a new business. Furthermore, this assignment has improved my confidence in using my Spanish language skills in a business environment."

Additionally, Laura was able to develop her strategic planning skills. "It is quite different to suggest areas for development and analysis when entering into a community with extremely limited resources. I also tried to integrate their cultural perspectives, when making business decisions."

For more information on how you can become involved in this initiative, please contact Carmen Algeciras at (305) 348-0399 or via e-mail: algecira@fiu.edu