Land O'Lakes supports the activities of Peace Corps Philippines on the islands of Luzon, Batanes and Palawan
Land O'Lakes International Development
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WORLDWIDE FARMER-TO-FARMER PROGRAM
Methodology
The Land O' Lakes approach has concentrated on identifying areas where the Farmer to Farmer program can have the best impact in the economies of each of the countries in which we work. The strategic objectives of the local USAID mission are an integral part of the specific approach designed for each country. We strive to team the program with other programs to maximize development results.
We have a unified system for monitoring and evaluation of the program. This system is based on gathering baseline information on each host organization. At subsequent meetings following the visit of a program volunteer this information is assessed and compared to the original baseline assessment to derive the impact of the program. In addition to the statistical information, a report is written documenting the impact and its significance.
Criteria are set for identifying host organizations, determining the scope of work, and identifying volunteers best suited to meet the needs of the host.
Jamaica
The Jamaican agriculture economy is exploring ways to position itself to better access foreign markets and the substantial local tourist markets. There are a large number of processors and producers working to access these high-end stable markets. We are currently working with local environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGO's) in promoting their efforts. Our activities concentrate on improving the quality, quantity, and consistency of their products. Also of importance, we are working together to develop amongst our partners the business skills necessary to access these markets.
Mexico
Dairy industry; In southeastern Mexico - - coffee, rice, cocoa
We are working with a dairy cooperative and its members in the state of Guadalajara. We are working with them to improve services to members, the quality of their milk, and the quantity of their production.
Cooperative Development, Processing, Direct Marketing, International Sales, Environmental protection
Through out the life of the program we have worked with a group of indigenous communities on supporting their growth from subsistence production agriculture into activities which will bring more income into their farms and communities. We have chosen three commodities in which we work, coffee, cocoa, and rice. With each of these groups we have worked with them to establish cooperatives, develop value added processing and market their product directly.
In coffee the 1000 families with which we work have formed a cooperative and are selling their product internationally for the second year in a row.
In cocoa, cooperatively owned processing sites have been established amongst the grower communities. Currently volunteers from one of the largest international chocolate manufacturer in the world is in country working with our partners to achieve the volume and quality necessary to meet the requirements of international buyers.
In rice the cooperative has established a processing plant. They have organized into a cooperative and their rice was presented at an organic food trade fair in California.
All of these projects encourage the protection of the jungles in SouthEast Mexico by providing alternatives to slash and burn agriculture. Coffee and Cocoa requires a shaded jungle environment to grow and the rice production offers the communities a new cash crop utilizing formerly unused low lands.
Philippines
Land O'Lakes supports the activities of Peace Corps Philippines on the islands of Luzon, Batanes and Palawan. Concentration has been on developing small markets for farmers, improving environmental practices via water, solid waste and eco-tourism assignments, organic farming techniques and pastureland management.
