The “Famer-to-Farmer” extension or technology transfer system is one the U.S. international development initiatives that provide opportunities for U.S. experts who are willing to volunteer time and energy to build the capacities of the beneficiaries through technical assistance in targeted areas in developing countries. The F2F is unlike the Peace Corps volunteer program introduced in Mali since 1962. In the case of F2F, the volunteers are consultants or experts with proven academic and professional background who work in targeted agricultural value chains. The volunteers include experienced producers (farmers), a specialist in business and cooperative development, university professors and scholars.
The creation of a volunteer technical assistance program was partly to address the issue of a massive infusion of financial and material in development with little achievement and the neglect of human resource development which remains the foundation for any development purposes. The U.S. government, following its international development policy, therefore, invited US citizens with proven skills and experiences to share and maintain solid relationships with the beneficiaries in developing countries so as to boost economic growth in these countries through the FTF concept.