The FtF Program provides farmers’ associations, cooperatives and agribusinesses with the opportunity to benefit from free American consultancy in order to improve their performances, providing them with a professional approach to the technical and financial issues.
The main objectives of the FtF Program in Moldova are:
To increase the private farmers’ income by assisting them to initiate group commercial activities;
To facilitate the access to credits for the private farmers and agricultural businessmen by gaining more knowledge on planning and financial management issues;
To strengthen the agribusinesses which contribute to the economic development and the development of rural communities.
People and businesses that are interested in becoming FtF clients can contact us at - info@moldova.cnfa.org.
You can benefit from free consulting services if you represent companies or farms that have proven a strong commitment, and you have clear ideas how to achieve superior results, as well as a proven track record of successful business operation. The selection criteria are quite simple; the most important one is being willing to learn and to gain more knowledge on a matter, as well as being open to assimilating new business management methods.
We are mostly focusing on the farmers’ groups that are willing to cooperate under different legal forms, such as cooperatives, industry businesses and associations which are sharing their knowledge on production practices (for fruit, vegetables, and dairy), and their methods of gaining more profit.
After you’ve applied, the specific cooperation steps are the following:
Together with you we develop a long-term work plan for the U.S. experts according to the existing requirements and needs;
CNFA representatives from the U.S. are recruiting qualified experts in order to assist you to solve your problems;
Finally, the experts are arriving to Moldova in order to provide you with practical training and on-site specific recommendations.
People and businesses that are interested in becoming FtF clients can contact us at - info@moldova.cnfa.org.
Assisted Activities The program supports but is not only limited to the following activities: production, processing, financial management, business management, cooperative and agribusinesses development, food safety standards implementation, etc.
Production activities (growing techniques improvement, soil protection, crop rotation, water and pest management)
Processing activities (expanding product lines, implementing new technologies)
Marketing (branding, packaging, product promotion, discovering and penetrating new markets)
Financial management of the agricultural activity
Agribusinesses management
Cooperative and agribusinesses development
Implementation of food safety standards
Assisting financial institutions
Knowledge transfer
Other ideas are welcomed as well.
People and businesses that are interested in becoming FtF clients can contact us at - info@moldova.cnfa.org.
FtF Program facilitates the knowledge transfer and the exchange of experience with the help of the American volunteers – farmers, managers of agribusinesses, rural crediting experts, production, marketing, and finance specialists, as well as agricultural cooperative members from the U.S. They’re dedicating their time in order to share their valuable knowledge and their practical experience with you. Together with the U.S. experts you will analyze the problems your business is currently facing, find possible solutions, look for new opportunities, and gain practical knowledge that is necessary for achieving your set objectives.
FtF Program was launched in October, 1999 by CNFA which has concluded a four year-term contract in order to implement the program in Moldova, Ukraine, Byelorussia, and South Africa. The program is funded by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program was eventually prolonged twice - in the years 2003 and 2008. Its current phase will last until the year 2013
More than 300 CNFA Moldova volunteers have assisted 80 host organizations from Moldova since the launching of the Program and until now – including informal farmers’ groups, cooperatives, processing facilities, and extension networks. The Program impact has been felt by more than 17.000 farmers. The FtF program has contributed to the marketing of several HVA products (fresh/ processed fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy) and raw materials with a total of worth of over $100 million. The estimated value of the provided consultancy until now is of $4 million.
A major factor that contributes to the successful implementation of the Program is the establishment of relationships between the American volunteers and Moldovan hosts. After returning to the U.S., the volunteers share their impressions with their friends and colleagues, encouraging them to participate in the Program as well. Some of them organize study visits in the U.S. for their Moldovan hosts. Many volunteers also participate in follow-up assignments in order to evaluate and strengthen the achieved progress of the host organization in Moldova. This practice has proven to be an effective and sustainable one.
Quotes from the Program partners:
"We are who we are now due to the continuous support from our members, but also due to the assistance provided by 10 CNFA volunteers, which have trained us on matters of cooperative development, milk producing, financial management, development of veterinary services, business management, and artificial insemination. We will also learn about the modern pasteurized milk production practices and dairy products marketing from two other CNFA experts this year."
Vasile Gheorghiţă, manager of the Vita-Lact cooperative
"I have heard about seedless watermelons, I saw them on TV, but I could never believe that I would see them growing on my farm".
Tudor Darii, Manager of “AgroAccess” Marketing Cooperative in Drochia
"Since the Human Resources Department was established, a staff management improvement can be noticed, and modern personnel selection, evaluation, and motivation techniques are implemented. I am glad and thankful to Mr. Bryce Malsbary, a CNFA volunteer,
who has contributed to my professional growth"
Ina Ciudin, HR Manager, Agrostoc Business Cooperative.
CNFA® programs in Moldova are primarily funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under cooperative agreements. This website was also made possible through support provided by USAID. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID.
Activities 