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The Farm Service Agency (FSA) Asian American and Pacific Islander Outreach program provides service and assistance to the farmers and ranchers of the Asian Pacific Islander Community, specifically those who have not participated in, or have not received benefits from USDA or FSA programs.
Many of our farmers and ranchers have experienced barriers that hinder them from becoming a successful farmer or rancher. Some of these barriers are: communication/language difficulty, loan qualifications, education on the different types of credit programs, or access to credit, marketing, etc. Other barriers may include lack of information regarding what programs may be available, access to FSA service centers, or distrust of government officials.
These barriers need to be eradicated. To accomplish this, FSA is committed to carrying out an effective Outreach program. Commitment is ensuring that:
- Resources such as funding, manpower, and training materials are provided to the communities we serve.
- Partnerships with members of the underserved and minority groups, community based organizations, community leaders, congressional leaders, educational institutions, and other federal agencies are encouraged and supported.
- Representation from the Asian Pacific Community, in FSA County Office Committee nominations and elections is achieved.
The following are only some of the services that are available: Farm Loan Assistance, Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Community Loans, Conservation Programs, Disaster Assistance, translation of program materials, and development of programs with community based organizations and educational institutions to enhance agricultural opportunities to new-entry farmers.
Have Questions? Maybe we can help. Please check out our AskFSA Online Knowledge Base.
We also encourage you to visit the USDA website www.usda.gov. This will link you to all the agencies within USDA, which is an excellent source of information regarding all programs and services that are offered in the Department of Agriculture.
If you are interested in a particular FSA State Office, please click here.
Here, you can obtain names and phone numbers of state office agency officials, as well as information regarding the location of the county office or service center near you. You can also call the state office to be connected to their Outreach Coordinator. These employees are knowledgeable and dedicated in their work, and can provide you with a wealth of information and assistance regarding the programs and any other agricultural-related issues or concerns you may have.
We at the National Office cannot do Outreach alone. We rely heavily on these coordinators, as well as people out in the field, to ensure that all farmers and ranchers are given the opportunity to receive the services being offered by the Agency. These coordinators are hands on experts and know the needs of the Community. Get to know them!
Most importantly, you, the community, need to be involved. In order to be heard, you have to bring issues and ideas to our attention. Communication is a very powerful tool. Use it to your advantage. Let us know what your needs are. Together, we can have an effective Outreach Program.
If you have anything that you would like to share with farmers and ranchers within the community that will enhance their quality of life, please let your State Outreach coordinator know, so we can share and disseminated the information on our Web Page or published in our Quarterly Newsletter.
Thank you for visiting our Asian American and Pacific Islander Outreach program Web Page.
Facts
May is "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month"
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