Our Approach

The Need

Of nearly 1.7 million people living poverty in Nicaragua, 70% of them live in rural areas. Landless farmers are some of the most vulnerable people to extreme poverty and food insecurity. Farmer to Farmer seeks to address two primary economic needs: lack of access to land and lack of agribusiness infrastructure.

Our Approach

Building Long Term Partnerships

Farmer to Farmer takes a long-term approach to poverty alleviation and rural development. As a group of North Americans trying to help in Nicaragua it is imperative to develop strong, trusting partnerships with local Nicaraguan institutions. These institutions carryout the day to day work in the field. The long-term nature of these partnerships is important because it allows us to study and understand the underlying causes of poverty in the areas that we are serving. It allows us to adapt and deploy appropriate strategies as we all learn and grow in our understanding. We strive utilize strategies that are consistent with a Biblical worldview, that respects the dignity of those being helped, that celebrate work and stewardship, and that promote the preeminence and Lordship of Christ and His redemptive work on earth.  We seek to continue working with our partner organizations to learn from both our mistakes and successes and adapt our programs as neccesary.

Farmer to Farmer operates as a Business Affiliate of Partners Worldwide. Partners Worldwide is the organization that helps bridge the cultural, language, legal, and financial gaps when working abroad. We utilize their Partnership Model. 

Rural Development Programs

LAND OWNERSHIP FOR LANDLESS FARMERS PROGRAM

Many farmers in rural Nicaragua do not own their own land. Many rent or work for large landowners. This is often a poor deal for the landless farmers and more like sharecropping for African Americans after the Civil War. It is a system that they can rarely get out of. 

Farmer to Farmer seeks to provide access to the opportunity of land ownership by providing low-interest loans to purchase land through the Land Ownership for Landless Farmer Program. Participants of this program have 10 years to repay the loan and also receive training on biblical worldview, stewardship, agronomy, animal husbandry, and business management. Upon completion of the program farm families are food secure and have a much greater income and financial security than when they were landless.

RURAL VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Over the years we have realized that providing access to land is not enough. Many of these farmers, as well as small farmers that own land, do not have access to credit markets, markets for inputs, or markets to sell products at a fair price. Therefore they have difficulty being profitable and productive and this makes repayment of a land loan difficult. 

Farmer to Farmer seeks to increase access and inclusion in markets for poor and marginalized farmers by investing in NGOs or companies that will use funds to develop the agricultural value chain in their region. Their work should utilize for-profit strategies that provide farmers with some or all of the following: business and agricultural training, access to capital, access to inputs, and access to local and international markets for sale of farm products.  

You can support Farmer to Farmer through the Partners Worldwide website. Please choose “Nicaragua: Farmer to Farmer” from the dropdown menu.