CNFA: Davis Plantation Expert Brings Skilled Technique to Moldovan Farms

CNFA: Davis Plantation Expert Brings Skilled Technique to Moldovan Farms

• 13.10.2009

After spending most of his time in tropical Latin American climates for agricultural production and business development, Dean Wheeler admits his volunteer assignment in the European nation of Moldova was a distinct, but welcome change. The Davis, CA, native recently returned from Chisinau, Moldova, where he was tasked to train members of the Table Grape Growers and Exporters Association in proper harvest training of local table grapes. His assignment in Moldova was a part of a Farmer-to-Farmer project through CNFA, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering people and enterprises in the developing world. The Table Grape Growers and Exporters Association (TGGEA), formed in April of 2008 with the assistance of a USAID project through CNFA, comprises eleven major table grape growers with the purpose of promoting table grapes on local and foreign markets. The 2006 ban on wine imports and impossibility of exporting domestic wine redirected Moldovan farmers to growing table grapes, as this product offers higher returns to agricultural producers and is thus more profitable. Wheeler instructed TGGEA members in the correct packing, shipping, cooling, and storing methods of table grapes. Time was spent visiting the Chisinau farms, interacting with local Moldovan growers on their methods, with Wheeler making recommendations whenever possible. The volunteer also went back and forth to the office headquarters, where he compiled evaluations and traded correspondence with Moldovan growers on his agricultural knowledge. “I like working with farmers, since I’m a farmer myself, and also enjoy being able to do some good where possible,” Wheeler said. He cited his good-working relationship with his host, staff, and translator, especially in their receptiveness to his recommendations and ideas regarding the farms. “I would say I definitely developed more of an appreciation for how farming works in Moldova and that part of the world, which is something I had not done much of before, since working in Central and South America. I found that very enriching.” A surprise encounter with inquisitive Peace Corps volunteers in Moldova provided an added highlight to the trip, where Wheeler and other CNFA volunteers led an informal discussion, elaborating on their experiences and impressions. Wheeler was pleased with their reception and appreciation, and was glad to pass on the importance of the local agriculture in the region. An avid travel volunteer since 2000, Wheeler has frequented a variety of Central and South American countries for agricultural training purposes, including stints in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Brazil. Wheeler also spent time in Uganda and Armenia, providing post-harvest handling and fruit processing advice to the farmers. His core competencies include fruit harvesting and packing, as well as plantation and field management. “The beauty of the Farmer-to-Farmer program is the assumption that farmers speak a common language, even though they can’t communicate. We speak the language of droughts, insects, and the plagues that afflict other farmers, regardless of what the local crop is or what the country is.” Ultimately Wheeler’s success in Moldova was simply being able to understand the needs of the Moldovan grape harvesters, specifically in terms of the local economy. Dean Wheeler traveled to Moldova under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program, which provides voluntary technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, and agribusinesses in developing and transitional countries to promote sustainable improvements in food processing, production, and marketing. Founded in 1985, CNFA is dedicated to strengthening agricultural markets and empowering entrepreneurs in the developing world. CNFA is now recruiting for many similar volunteer assignments. Please visit www.cnfa.org/farmertofarmer for a list of available opportunities and to find out how you can become a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer.