NFU Members Bring Knowledge, Experience to Zambia
ZAMBIA - National Farmers Union (NFU) representatives are currently in Chipata Eastern Province, Zambia to participate in the National Cooperative Business Association's – Cooperative League USA (NCBA-CLUSA) Farmer-to-Farmer Program.Brittany Jablonsky, NFU’s director of advocacy communications, and Ellen Linderman, a North Dakota Farmers Union board member, will spend two weeks working with the region’s Chipata District Farmers Association to visit with local farmers and aid in developing marketing initiatives.
"I’m excited to work with the Zambian farmers who have just gotten their first co-op off the ground," said Ms Jablonsky. "I think this assignment will be an important part of helping these farmers begin to address some of the marketing and financial management issues they will face as they continue to grow their co-op’s capacity."
The Chipata District Farmers Association is a non-governmental farmers association with more than 2000 registered farmers. The Association offers training to farmers in agriculture related subjects such as poultry, crop husbandry and agribusiness.
It also focuses on poverty reduction and land access for disadvantaged members of the community. The Association offers seasonal agricultural inputs on credit in partnership with Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO).
The goal of this Farmer-to-Farmer project is to help farmers in developing countries in other areas of the world learn to make the most of their resources by tapping the knowledge of American farmers.
"NFU is proud to work with NCBA and the Farmer-to-Farmer program in order to share the knowledge and experience of American family farmers with their peers in developing countries in order to improve the quality of life of all those involved," said NFU President Roger Johnson.
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