Enabling farmer cooperation

The Farmer to Farmer programme of the Partners of the Americas brings together farmers from the USA and Latin America, based on the precept that people can solve their own problems if they have information and tools. Volunteers from the USA work with farmers and ranchers in Latin America to identify local needs and design projects to address them. Local Partners chapters and collaborating agricultural organizations provide in-country support for the volunteers. Since, 1991, the programme has helped increase crop productivity and food production, strengthen farming and marketing operations, improve livestock and herd management adopt new crops and better the environment. The involvement of women farmers is recognized; over 30% of the volunteers are women.